The Philadelphia Phillies will test their dramatic midseason turnaround against baseball’s best record when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. The matchup opens a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park and headlines ESPN’s exclusive doubleheader.
Later in Anaheim, the St. Louis Cardinals will try to strengthen their crowded National League Wild Card position against an Angels club focused on its younger players. Both games carry different stakes, from a potential October preview in Philadelphia to a key stretch before the Trade Deadline for St. Louis.
Dodgers and Phillies Bring October History Into Monday’s Opener
The Dodgers enter at 63-37, the top record in MLB, after taking two of three games from the Phillies in Los Angeles to close May. Los Angeles also eliminated Philadelphia in last year’s NLDS on the way to its second straight title.
Philadelphia’s season changed sharply after an 9-19 start and the April 28 dismissal of manager Rob Thomson. Since then, the Phillies have gone 46-26, the second-best record in the majors over that stretch.
| Matchup | Time | Scheduled Starters | Team Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies | 7:10 p.m. ET | Emmet Sheehan vs. Cristopher Sánchez | Dodgers 63-37, Phillies 55-45 |
| St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Angels | 10:10 p.m. ET | Kyle Leahy vs. José Soriano | Cardinals 51-47, Angels 39-61 |
Cristopher Sánchez returns to the mound after starting last week’s All-Star Game for the National League. The left-hander is 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA and remains firmly in the NL Cy Young race.
The Phillies’ offense has also leaned heavily on Kyle Schwarber, whose 33 home runs lead MLB. The club is expected to look for offensive help before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
Emmet Sheehan will start for the Dodgers, carrying a 4-6 record and 4.81 ERA into the game. The young right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last three starts.
Los Angeles has scored the third-most runs in MLB this season, with Shohei Ohtani setting the pace in July. Ohtani has four home runs and 10 RBIs during the month.
Cardinals Face a Defining Stretch in Anaheim
The Cardinals arrived in Southern California after positioning themselves in a virtual three-way tie for the third NL Wild Card spot. Their unexpected push has been led by Jordan Walker, a first-time All-Star and Home Run Derby winner.
Walker has recorded a hit in each of his three games since the break and owns a 10-game hitting streak overall. His production adds urgency to a stretch that could shape St. Louis’ approach to the Trade Deadline.
Kyle Leahy is scheduled to start for St. Louis with a 7-4 record and 3.73 ERA. The right-hander will face José Soriano, one of the young players the Angels are counting on as they build toward the future.
Soriano has cooled after a dominant start to the season, but the 27-year-old still owns a 3.49 ERA across 20 starts. According to www.mlb.com, his 24.7% strikeout rate remains an encouraging marker for the Angels’ development plans.