Playing in the weakest division of the National, the Cardinals have managed to keep control of the first place in their division. The Phillies are the third team in the National Division East to qualify for the playoffs.
Interesting fact: The last time the Phillies made the playoffs was in 2011, the year the Cardinals last won the World Series.
Cardinals season
Top of the class in a fairly weak division, the Cardinals had no real opponents during the season, especially in the last week of the season, possessing a comfortable seven-game lead over their closest rival, the Brewers of Milwaukee. Aside from their positioning in the standings, the Cardinals have had a good season.
Moreover, at the beginning of September, the Cards had the best record between the deadline for transactions and September 6. Even they possessed a seven-game lead, which they managed to maintain.
Phillies season
If the Phillies managed to qualify for the playoffs, it’s because there are more teams in the playoffs this year. Indeed, the third team to qualify in their division, they would not have had this chance in 2021.
Still, the Phillies have a good offense. They have struggled defensively since the start of the season. They lack pitchers. Interesting fact: their manager, Rob Thomson, is Canadian. Bryce Harper is also having a strong season, batting .286 and 18 home runs. It’s the first time since 2011 that the Phillies have made the playoffs.
Compare pitching staff
The pitchers of the Cards have a much more positive record than those of the Phillies. Among the Phillies, we find in particular Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler. Wheeler, with a 2.82 points allowed average and 1.04 WHIP, will pitch Game 1 of the series while Aaron Nola, with a 3.25 points allowed average and 0.96 WHIP, will pitch Game 2.
As for the Cards, the starting pitchers have not yet been announced. We still suspect that Adam Wainwright will be one of the two starting pitchers. Aged 41, the 2022 season could very well be the last for this player who has only played for the Saint-Louis Cards in his career. Wainwright had gotten off to a great start in the playoffs in 2021, when the Cards faced the Dodgers in the second-best game. In 5.1 innings of work, he had allowed four hits and had a 1.69 runs allowed average.
The Dodgers won that game 3-1, thanks to two runs in the ninth inning. There is no doubt that he will give his all when he leaves this year.
Compare Attacks
93 wins for the Cardinals against 87 for the Phillies. If the Cardinals have managed to obtain this number of victories, it is not necessarily because of their presence on offense. The Phillies have better stats when it comes to comparing attacks.
Individually, the player with the best batting average of both teams is Paul Goldschmidt, with an average of .317 and 35 homers. Goldschmidt finds himself ranked third in MLB. But, when we look at team totals, the Phillies have the best batting average, with .253.
However, when we look at the number of RBIs, the Cards have made the most (739 vs. 719) and the Cards have a better MPP (.745 vs. .739).
imponderables
For the Cardinals, this year’s playoffs mean a lot. As mentioned above, Adam Wainwright may be playing his last games with the team he played for his entire career. His teammate Yadier Molina, with whom he shares a record of starts together, will retire.
And it’s the same for Albert Pujols. Having started his career in St. Louis, it’s a homecoming for the 42-year-old. This year’s playoffs are one last chance to win together for these three great Cards players.
On the Phillies side, if their defense wakes up and the pitchers get off to a great start, they could have a chance to win. Remember that this series will be a two of three. In this format, anything can happen.
In closing, I hope to see the Cardinals win. Not only because they represent a division often abused among the fans, but also to see Pujols, Molina and Wainwright finish their career in a positive way.
