Phillies vs. Padres Game 1 Odds
| Phillies Odds | +105 |
| Padres Odds | -125 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 |
| Time | 8:03 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Philadelphia Phillies and the San Diego Padres were the last teams in the NL Playoffs field as the fifth and sixth seeds. They each began the postseason on the road as NL wild-card teams. Yet it is the Phillies and Padres who are the last teams standing and will meet in the NLCS.
The teams have each been off since Saturday after closing their NLDS series' in four games. This will give the teams a few days of rest and also allow them to line up their No. 1 starters. Zach Wheeler will get the ball for the Phillies while Yu Darvish will start for the Padres.
While there will be aces on the mound, that also means there is value on the position players.
The Parlay (+564):
- Rhys Hoskins to Record a Hit (-170)
- Juan Soto to Record a Hit (-160)
- Bryce Harper to Record a Hit (-190)
- Zach Wheeler Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-140)
Same-Game Parlay – Phillies vs. Padres NLCS Game 1
Rhys Hoskins to Record a Hit
Rhys Hoskins has been quiet this postseason, hitting just .154 with a .493 OPS in six games. However, he arguably delivered the biggest blow to the Atlanta Braves.
In Game 3, Hoskins' three-run home run turned a 1-0 game into a 4-0 game and Spencer Strider was pulled one batter later. The Phillies went on to blitz the Braves 9-1.
Hoskins recorded a hit in three of the four games against Atlanta. He is coming off a 2-for-5 outing in Game 4. Hoskins will enter this series with good results against Darvish as well. In his career, Hoskins is 6-for-16 with a home run and two doubles.
I'm banking on Hoskins to continue that success in Game 1 and at least give us one hit.
Juan Soto to Record a Hit
Soto is one of the game's best power threats and is the reigning Home Run Derby champion to prove it. Soto is still looking for his first home run this postseason, however he has been consistent with getting hits.
Soto has seven hits in seven postseason game and is hitting .250 overall. He has recorded a hit five of his last six postseason games, including the last three against the Dodgers.
Soto also is 11-for-38 with two home runs in his career against Wheeler. Soto has seen plenty of Wheeler from their NL East matchups when Soto was a National.
If Wheeler goes six innings, Soto will have at least three opportunities against him and I expect at least one hit.
Bryce Harper to Record a Hit
While Hoskins and Soto enter game 1 with prior success in their matchups, Bryce Harper does not. He is just 1-for-6 with four strikeouts against Darvish. However, the one hit was a home run and if you have watched what Harper has done this postseason, then you will understand why I am backing him anyway.
Harper is 10-for-23 with three home runs, six runs batted in, and a 1.437 OPS in six games this postseason. His two-run homer in Game 3 followed Hoskins' and capped the Phillies' six-run inning. Harper has a five-game hitting streak and has two hits in four of the five games.
Additionally, the last time Harper played in San Diego, he was hit by a pitch and suffered a fractured left thumb. Harper missed two months and the injury disrupted another great season. He may be a bit motivated in this one.
Zack Wheeler Over 4.5 Strikeouts
Zack Wheeler is pitching in his first postseason, but you would not know it by what he has done this season. The Phillies ace has a 2.19 ERA in 12 1/3 innings through his first two starts. Of the 12 full innings he has worked, 11 of them have been scoreless as the Braves scored three runs in the sixth inning off him before he was pulled.
Wheeler had four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings against the Cardinals and five in six innings against the Braves his last start. The Padres have struck out nine times in every postseason game and have reached double-digits in six of the seven postseason games. If Wheeler works six innings like I expect, I feel good about his chances to get five.
Additionally, the Phillies have won Game 1 on the road both in the NL Wild Card Round against the Cardinals and the NLDS against the Braves. Considering their bullpen is not the strength of the pitching staff, Philadelphia's best chance of stealing homefield advantage again is with Wheeler on the mound.
That means he should have a longer leash, which will gave him more opportunities for strikeouts.
