Batter's Box Interactive Magazine: Toronto at Philadelphia, June 13-15

The Phillies have been scuffling lately, losing ten of their last thirteen. The two game cushion that they held atop the NL East just two weeks ago is long gone, and they've fallen five games behind the Mets. That should have them feeling all surly and grumpy, and looking for someone to kick around. Maybe some other other baseball club that might come marching into their ball park feeling all good about themselves.

But Bryce Harper is on the IL with the same wrist issue that bothered him most of last season. It's a problem - the Phillies offence is a little bit top-heavy. To summarize : Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner are really good. And I guess Nick Castellanos is okay. But after that, it's ain't that pretty at all. It ought to be a little easier to pitch around Schwarber and Turner with Harper on the shelf.

You may have happy memories of how the the Jays (like the Brewers before them) kicked the living crap out of Jesus Luzardo, one of the Phillies' two ace southpaws. The Phillies have since identified that Luzardo was tipping his pitches (hence the 20 earned runs allowed in just 5.2 innings over his previous, two starts) and he returned to his customary double-digit strikeout ways his last time out. The Jays didn't score many runs at all against pitchers not named Luzardo when the two teams met last week, and there isn't going to be a rematch anyway. First the jays will see Ranger Suarez, who has only faced the Jays once, way back in May 2021, allowing a single unearned run in 2.1 innings. He was still coming out of the Philadelphia bullpen in those days, but Suarez moved into the rotation that August, where he's been ever since, with some especially effective work in the post-season. After him comes Christopher Sanchez, who has made three career starts against the Blue Jays, including the one last week, coming out on top on all three occasions, with a 3-0, 1.80 log for his efforts. Zack Wheeler is their veteran ace, and he's the one who's never beat the Blue Jays in six attempts. But he's pretty good, you know!

Toronto at Philadelphia, June 13-15

Friday, June 13 2025 @ 09:57 AM EDT