Game of the Week: April 28: PHI @ SF
Jan 27, 2021 19:58:01 GMT -5
Grubs - Philly and sfdave like this
Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 27, 2021 19:58:01 GMT -5
Philadelphia Phillies (14-14) @ San Francisco Giants (20-8)
PHI: Adam Conley (1-3, 6.31)
SF: Mehki Lias (3-0, 1.63)
Last season the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants each made it to a seventh game of the NLDS.
Each has their sights set on bigger accomplishments in 2025.
Two World Series contenders face off by the bay when the Philadelphia Phillies take on the San Francisco Giants in the Game of the Week.
The Giants come into the game riding high. They stand at 20-8 on the year to the lead the National League and are 9-3 in the first 12 games of a 21-game stretch against clubs currently with winning records. Their spirits are also soaring as the Game of the Week comes a day after Shane Baz fired a no-hitter against the Nationals with star rookie Kelyn Klattenburger’s solo shot accounting for the game’s only run.
Their offense is once again near the top of the league in batting average, as the league’s fourth best offense is fueled by a second-best batting average and on-base percentage. The club let Nick Gordon go in the offseason, but made up for it by acquiring Jonathan Arauz in what looks like an inspired move. Arauz is second in the league in batting average by a Second Baseman with a .303 mark and is second in home runs with six. He’s one of the few Giants who had a good offensive series against Washington, hitting 4-11 with two doubles.
The club is still fueled by its pitching though. Despite Baz’ pedigree and wonderful performance on Sunday, it’s tonight’s starter, Mekhi Lias, who leads the club in ERA. Tripod is 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA in his first year after a cup of coffee in 2023 and an injury-plagued 2024. His back flared up in his last start on April 23, but he’s been cleared by doctors to return tonight.
Tripod has allowed just one run over his last 16.2 innings, with 21 strikeouts and no walks issued over that stretch. Lias has wonderful arm action on his changeup, a live fastball, and a devastating slider he commands with authority. A fourth-round pick from Tampa Bay, Lias was the main haul for Buster Posey in 2022. Lias was never exceptionally regarded, only earning a single ranking of 95 on the PBA Top 100 Prospects leaderboard, and he’s a bit older as a 26-year-old. However, he looks like one of the game’s brightest arms on a team with an armada of them.
San Francisco’s peak may not have happened yet as they’re still breaking in Klattenburger as a future star. Klattenburger hasn’t had a great start to his career, and has suffered from dreadful home/road splits. He’s batting .140 at home and .294 on the road, as his power hasn’t translated to AT&T Park yet. He has 11 balls hit this year that have landed on what would be the warning track or beyond of an average park. With a little more time in the weight room, those fly outs will begin turning into home runs.
He’ll be Adam Conley’s problem tonight. Conley is off to a rough 2025 with a 6.31 ERA over the early going. Most concerning for Conley is an 11.8% walk rate that is the highest of his career, combining with a 52.0% ground ball rate that is 0.2 percent away the lowest of his career. He’s putting more guys on, he’s not getting the ball on the ground, and whether its by home runs or balls-in-play, hitters are taking advantage. With Joe Musgrove and Joey Wentz elsewhere, there’s more of an onus on Conley to figure this out.
If Philadelphia keeps things close, they have Dan Altavilla in the pen, who leads the league with eight saves. Altavilla had a strong first half last year before struggling in the second half, and is making a name as a strong first half player.
Offensively, Philadelphia is in better shape now after an early-season cold spell. Seth Beer recently homered in four straight games, Franklin Barreto is the only Second Baseman with a higher average and OBP than Arauz, and Darrick Hall has been great this year. He has eight RBI his last two games, home runs in four of the last six, and leads the league with 12 pitches deposited over fences.
If Philadelphia keeps things close, they have Dan Altavilla in the pen, who leads the league with eight saves. Altavilla had a strong first half last year before struggling in the second half, and is making a name as a strong first half player.
Like San Francisco, Philadelphia also has a Top 10 Prospect in its lineup as Stud Morales has been Philadelphia’s Center Fielder the last two weeks. After going 1-14 against Milwaukee’s vaunted pitching staff his first series, and 2-21 his first six games, Morales homered twice against Miami on April 20. Since then, Morales has been on a six-game hitting streak, going .426 with three home runs and nine RBIs during that time. Philadelphia has won 7 of 8, no doubt buoyed by Stud’s presence.
Questions for the GMs:
For Matt Grubs, how has Morales’ presence changed your offense?
Bobby Witt Jr. was terrific last year, but has really struggled in the early going here. What’s been his issue this year?
How big is it for Conley’s future rotation stakes to have a strong game today?
For Dave Twibell, Nick Gordon is hitting .323 for Texas. Jonathan Arauz is batting .303 for you with power. How do you look at your Second Base situation with Arauz instead of Gordon?
Wenceel hasn’t been a full-time starter the majors since 2022. How has he looked out there to you?
How did Mehki Lias get the nickname Tripod?
TRIVIA: Eric Pena has the most strikeouts in a no-hitter with 19. Shane Baz is second with 17. Which former Cy Young Award Winner is third with a 14-strikeout no-no?
PHI: Adam Conley (1-3, 6.31)
SF: Mehki Lias (3-0, 1.63)
Last season the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants each made it to a seventh game of the NLDS.
Each has their sights set on bigger accomplishments in 2025.
Two World Series contenders face off by the bay when the Philadelphia Phillies take on the San Francisco Giants in the Game of the Week.
The Giants come into the game riding high. They stand at 20-8 on the year to the lead the National League and are 9-3 in the first 12 games of a 21-game stretch against clubs currently with winning records. Their spirits are also soaring as the Game of the Week comes a day after Shane Baz fired a no-hitter against the Nationals with star rookie Kelyn Klattenburger’s solo shot accounting for the game’s only run.
Their offense is once again near the top of the league in batting average, as the league’s fourth best offense is fueled by a second-best batting average and on-base percentage. The club let Nick Gordon go in the offseason, but made up for it by acquiring Jonathan Arauz in what looks like an inspired move. Arauz is second in the league in batting average by a Second Baseman with a .303 mark and is second in home runs with six. He’s one of the few Giants who had a good offensive series against Washington, hitting 4-11 with two doubles.
The club is still fueled by its pitching though. Despite Baz’ pedigree and wonderful performance on Sunday, it’s tonight’s starter, Mekhi Lias, who leads the club in ERA. Tripod is 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA in his first year after a cup of coffee in 2023 and an injury-plagued 2024. His back flared up in his last start on April 23, but he’s been cleared by doctors to return tonight.
Tripod has allowed just one run over his last 16.2 innings, with 21 strikeouts and no walks issued over that stretch. Lias has wonderful arm action on his changeup, a live fastball, and a devastating slider he commands with authority. A fourth-round pick from Tampa Bay, Lias was the main haul for Buster Posey in 2022. Lias was never exceptionally regarded, only earning a single ranking of 95 on the PBA Top 100 Prospects leaderboard, and he’s a bit older as a 26-year-old. However, he looks like one of the game’s brightest arms on a team with an armada of them.
San Francisco’s peak may not have happened yet as they’re still breaking in Klattenburger as a future star. Klattenburger hasn’t had a great start to his career, and has suffered from dreadful home/road splits. He’s batting .140 at home and .294 on the road, as his power hasn’t translated to AT&T Park yet. He has 11 balls hit this year that have landed on what would be the warning track or beyond of an average park. With a little more time in the weight room, those fly outs will begin turning into home runs.
He’ll be Adam Conley’s problem tonight. Conley is off to a rough 2025 with a 6.31 ERA over the early going. Most concerning for Conley is an 11.8% walk rate that is the highest of his career, combining with a 52.0% ground ball rate that is 0.2 percent away the lowest of his career. He’s putting more guys on, he’s not getting the ball on the ground, and whether its by home runs or balls-in-play, hitters are taking advantage. With Joe Musgrove and Joey Wentz elsewhere, there’s more of an onus on Conley to figure this out.
If Philadelphia keeps things close, they have Dan Altavilla in the pen, who leads the league with eight saves. Altavilla had a strong first half last year before struggling in the second half, and is making a name as a strong first half player.
Offensively, Philadelphia is in better shape now after an early-season cold spell. Seth Beer recently homered in four straight games, Franklin Barreto is the only Second Baseman with a higher average and OBP than Arauz, and Darrick Hall has been great this year. He has eight RBI his last two games, home runs in four of the last six, and leads the league with 12 pitches deposited over fences.
If Philadelphia keeps things close, they have Dan Altavilla in the pen, who leads the league with eight saves. Altavilla had a strong first half last year before struggling in the second half, and is making a name as a strong first half player.
Like San Francisco, Philadelphia also has a Top 10 Prospect in its lineup as Stud Morales has been Philadelphia’s Center Fielder the last two weeks. After going 1-14 against Milwaukee’s vaunted pitching staff his first series, and 2-21 his first six games, Morales homered twice against Miami on April 20. Since then, Morales has been on a six-game hitting streak, going .426 with three home runs and nine RBIs during that time. Philadelphia has won 7 of 8, no doubt buoyed by Stud’s presence.
Questions for the GMs:
For Matt Grubs, how has Morales’ presence changed your offense?
Bobby Witt Jr. was terrific last year, but has really struggled in the early going here. What’s been his issue this year?
How big is it for Conley’s future rotation stakes to have a strong game today?
For Dave Twibell, Nick Gordon is hitting .323 for Texas. Jonathan Arauz is batting .303 for you with power. How do you look at your Second Base situation with Arauz instead of Gordon?
Wenceel hasn’t been a full-time starter the majors since 2022. How has he looked out there to you?
How did Mehki Lias get the nickname Tripod?
TRIVIA: Eric Pena has the most strikeouts in a no-hitter with 19. Shane Baz is second with 17. Which former Cy Young Award Winner is third with a 14-strikeout no-no?
