After the Philadelphia Phillies stole Game 1 on the road from the San Diego Padres, the MLB playoff series will head back to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday (October 21). The Padres offense came alive in game 2, winning 8-5, so Game 3 will be crucial for both teams.
In the regular season, the Padres were much better than the Phillies on the road, finishing with a record of 45-36. Expect them to steal at least one game in Philadelphia to make the series interesting. However, the Phillies were just as strong at home this season with a record of 47-34. Even with a shift in home-field advantage, the Phillies only show as a slight favorite. The sportsbooks are expecting a close battle in Game 3.
The Padres will put RHP Joe Musgrove on the mound on Friday. Musgrove has had an impressive 7-3 record and a 3.0 ERA on the road this season. In his only outing against the Phillies this season, he allowed seven hits and six runs in six innings. Bryce Harper and the Phillies offense has been explosive so far, so he will have his work cut out for him. Musgrove gave up two home runs in that game, and the Phillies have been hot with home runs lately.
The Phillies, meanwhile, will look to Ranger Suarez to start Game 3. With a record of just 4-4 at home this season, he has also allowed a 4.27 ERA in Philadelphia. These are the types of numbers that should excite the Padres after the Game 2 showing they had at the plate; they desperately need to keep it rolling.
Nevertheless, it won't be the first time Suarez has seen San Diego this season. He went 7+ innings in his last outing against them, allowing only two runs. Those numbers are not as exciting if you're a Padres fan.
All signs point to this being a deep, difficult battle for the National League championship. Both teams are capable of stealing games on the road and battling from behind, crucial for any team wanting to make the World Series. We'll look more at the betting lines, but guarantee a back and forth Game 3.
New BetRivers players get up to a $500 free bet
San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies Match Details
Fixture: Padres @ Phillies
Date and Time: Friday, October 21 (7:37 pm EST)
Venue: Citezens Bank Park
San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies Betting Odds
Get up to a $1,000 bonus when you sign up to Superbook
San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies Betting Prediction
The stadium and home crowd will be wild, but that won't stop Musgrove and the San Diego Padres from staying locked in. Don't count on a ton of runs, although these offenses can explode any time.
Expect Suarez to get beat up a bit, and the Phillies will have to tax the bullpen because of that. Musgrove could hold strong and hand a lead to the bullpen in the later innings. The Phillies could put a couple runs on the board, but the San Diego Padres should take game 3.