The parity throughout Major League Baseball has prepared teams for a close finish to the regular season, as teams jostle for playoff positioning.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers still have the best record in baseball, Thursday’s off-day allowed their closest rival to catch up in the standings. The Dodgers have been in a battle all year with the Philadelphia Phillies to claim the No. 1 seed in the National League. Both teams are 84-56 after Philadelphia’s win Thursday.
Wednesday, the MLB on Fox studio crew discussed who is better built to win the World Series between the Dodgers and the Phillies. Former Dodger infielder Mark Sweeney chose the Phillies.
“At the beginning of the year I would’ve said it was a toss-up,” Sweeney said. “Both these teams are super talented. I think the slight edge goes to the Philadelphia Phillies. They want home-field advantage because that is an advantage. The Bank [Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia] gets rocking. I think that’s a difference-maker for this Philadelphia Phillies club.”
Sweeney isn’t wrong: the Dodgers have plenty of postseason experience against the Phillies and it hasn’t ended well most of the time.
Both teams have lineups loaded with start and Sweeney believes it will come down to the hotter offense.
“That being said, I think it becomes the stars offensively for both sides,” he added. “Who is going to be better at their version?
“Then the difference maker for me is starting rotation. When you get into the playoffs you have to pitch; you have to be able to dominate when it comes to the starting rotation. Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola know how to do that. And when they have that version of themselves, Ranger Suarez could be one of those factors that’s the No. 4 guy. Christopher Sanchez has the ability to throw in that rotation. It’s a talented rotation.
“When you look at that difference maker, that Bank could be the key.”
Sweeney played in parts of 14 major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, and Dodgers.
If Sweeney believes home field is key then the Dodgers need to finish with the best record because a sold-out Dodger Stadium in the playoffs is hard to beat too.
