2 min read • October 18, 2022
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The Padres finally triumphed over the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers in four games. They did it with pitching, defense and timely hitting – a formula that is postseason friendly.
The team also did it without star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who is serving a PED suspension after starting the season on IL from a left wrist fracture in the offseason.
San Diego has fared well without their electric star shortstop, and he may not be ready for the start of next season after a recent wrist surgery.
Ha-Seong Kim has filled in admirably at short this season. Kim hit .251 with 11 home runs and had a .982 fielding percentage during the regular season.
Manny Machado, who has stepped up big time for the club, appeared to injure his right knee in his final at bat of the Wild Card series against the Mets.
The “tweak” of his medial patella femoral ligament could sap his power on inside pitches and limit his range in the field.
Machado's injury did not appear to affect him much in the NLDS, but it is something to monitor as the postseason run continues.
The good news for the club is that their entire pitching staff and bullpen is healthy and rested for the occasion.
San Diego is playing in its first NLCS since 1998.
Playing in their first NLCS since 2009, the Phillies enter relatively unscathed by injuries.
If there is one weakness on their roster, it is the bullpen.
A big issue affecting the championship series is the loss of David Robertson, who reportedly suffered a calf strain celebrating a Bryce Harper home run against the Cardinals.
Robertson’s absence will add strain to an already thin Phillies bullpen.
Late reliever Brad Hand – one of 12 Phillies to record a save this season – recently suffered from left elbow tendonitis and missed time late in the season.
He returned for the NLDS and allowed just 2 hits across 2.2 innings and no runs.
Hand will likely have a limited role as the team plays it safe with the tendinitis, but his addition could be a big boost for a bullpen lacking left handed arms.
Harper and second baseman Jean Segura both missed much of the second half for the Phillies after suffering fractured fingers but the offense remained strong, helping jump-start their playoff resurgence that featured a 66-46 record since June 1 and a 15-20 record since August 28.
Harper hasn’t played in the outfield since early Spring because of a torn right UCL but the injury hasn’t hindered his hitting and the 29-year-old has 18 home runs with 65 RBI on an .878 OPS in 99 games this season.
Slugger Kyle Schwarber played through a calf issue for much of the regular second half but still took the NL home run crown with a career-best 46 – and a league-most 200 strikeouts – in 155 games.
The rest of the Phillies’ key position players – including right fielder Nick Castellanos, third baseman Alec Bohm, first baseman Rhys Hoskins, and catcher J.T. Realmuto – have been available and effective at the plate.
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