Phillies vs Dodgers: This Series in the National League Should Be Tremendous

• Tony Gonsolin will make his second start of the season for the Dodgers
• The Phillies are coming off a series win over the Astros 
• Los Angeles is 8-6 at home this season 

The Los Angeles Dodgers will continue their home stand against the Phillies on Monday night. Los Angeles has been solid this season, even though they’re tied for the lead in the NL West. The Dodgers are tied with the Diamondbacks, which was unexpected after a month of games. However, over the course of a season, Los Angeles should overtake Arizona completely.

The Phillies have seemed to have a brief turnaround, with a series win over the Astros. They finally have a record over .500, and this last series win could be the exact motivation they need to stay strong. This series in the National League should be tremendous, and the action starts on Monday night. Let’s get into the best ways to profit from the action. 

Phillies vs Dodgers Odds

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Phillies vs Dodgers Pick

Ever since Tony Gonsolin returned to the rotation for the Dodgers, he has been strong. The pitcher doesn’t have enough workload to make any real assessment, but he hasn’t allowed a run in 3.1 innings of work. Gonsolin will continue to get more acclimated to big-league hitters, but his first outing against the Pirates was positive. 

Taijuan Walker will be his counterpart for the Phillies, and he is 2-1 on the season with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. When Walker is pitching well, he is elite, but consistency is an issue. He has walked 14 batters in 25.1 innings, and this just isn’t going to cut it against the Dodgers. 

Los Angeles should control the pace of this game, which will lead to a victory. Take the Dodgers at home in Gonsolin’s second appearance of the season. 

• Dodgers ML (-178)

Phillies vs Dodgers Predictions 

The Los Angeles Dodgers will control the pace of this baseball game. As a Dodgers bettor, I’m looking at Walker’s control issues as the straw that will break the camel’s back. The Phillies have been playing great baseball, and it takes a lot to win a series against the Astros. This is especially true when a team is playing lackluster baseball, which defined Philadelphia prior to this weekend. 

If the Dodgers get free passes, they will capitalize on their opportunities. Los Angeles has been led by Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. These two players have been the sparks for the club this season, and they create momentum. Muncy leads the league in homers with 11 on the season. He also has 22 RBI, which resulted from countless barrels in 2023. 

Freddie Freeman leads the team in batting average at .276 and also has posted a .376 OBP. Freeman is a power hitter that has been the center of consistency for the Dodgers. These two will have some big hits off Walker towards the end of his start, which will lead to a Los Angeles victory. 

Philadelphia Phillies Preview

The Philadelphia Phillies have won games recently because of great starting efforts from their pitchers and timely hitting. The team started slow, which is no surprise as they did this last season, but advanced all the way to the World Series. Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm have been the two catalysts for the Phillies this season.

Marsh is slashing .341/.426/.671, and Bohm has recorded 21 RBI on the season. Marsh and Bohm are great hitters, but they shouldn’t be the players leading the team. Trea Turner hasn’t been consistent, and J.T. Realmuto hasn’t been a reliable power hitter as we’ve seen in past seasons. 

Kyle Schwarber still isn’t hitting for average, and his power numbers could be better. There are multiple reasons to call out Philadelphia for the slow start, but they seem to be figuring it out recently. However, the Phillies haven’t shown enough consistency to bet them in this position.

Los Angeles Dodgers Preview

The Los Angeles Dodgers stayed under the luxury tax this season, and it’s showing slightly. Yet, in a year where Los Angeles isn’t doing everything in their power to win, they’re still one of the favorites to claim the World Series. 

Los Angeles is slightly over .500, but they play in a highly competitive division. A .500 team in the NL West has more respect than a .500 team in other divisions. The addition of Gonsolin to the rotation will help the Dodgers for the remainder of the year if he stays healthy. 

In 2022, Gonsolin was one of the best pitchers in baseball, and his stats were staggering. He was 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and a .172 opponent batting average. He showed this ability in his first appearance of the season, but it was clear he still had to work out some kinks. 

Another thing the Dodgers need is better production from Mookie Betts. Betts is a cornerstone of the franchise, but he hasn’t delivered at all. He is batting .232 on the season with a .763 OPS. The OPS isn’t terrible, but it needs to improve for a player like Betts. The Dodgers must find their identity, but once this occurs, the sky is the limit for this team. 

How to Watch Phillies vs Dodgers 

• Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
• Game Time & Date: MAY 1 @ 10:10 p.m ET
• Streaming: MLB.TV