By Marvin Moore

USA – A pair of proud franchises seeking a return to glory will be on stage when the Los Angeles Dodgers meet the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The Dodgers will be making their first trip back to the NLCS since 1988 when Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson led Los Angeles to a surprising World Series triumph over the Oakland Athletics. The Phillies, who were swept by the Colorado Rockies in last year’s National League Division Series, last reached the NLCS in 1993.

The series is a contrast of styles as the Dodgers will rely on a pitching unit that surrendered the second-fewest walks in the NL and allowed the fewest home runs. On the other hand, the Phillies live and die by the home run with walks and defensive miscues turning solo shots into two-run and three-run bombs.

Starting Pitchers
Left-hander Cole Hamels stayed healthy this season racking up 33 starts which included two shutouts and a 3.09 ERA with 196 strikeouts over 227 1/3 innings. But if the Phillies are to reach the World Series for the first time in 15 years, their young ace and the ageless phenom Jamie Moyer (16-7,3.71) must deliver in a big way. Brett Myers (10-13,4.55) pitched well the last two months of the season which bodes well for NL East champions.

Derek Lowe (14-11,3.24) and Chad Billingsley (16-10,3.14) pounded the strike zone and kept the ball in the park to send the Cubs high-powered offense home for the winter. The ability of Lowe, Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda (9-10,3.73) to keep Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell from driving the ball into the bleachers will make or break the NL West champions.
Edge: Los Angeles

Relief Pitchers
Brad Lidge has been nothing less than outstanding in 2008 compiling 41 saves while sporting a 1.95 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings. Bullpen mates J.C. Romero (2.75), Chad Durbin (2.87), Ryan Madson (3.05) and Clay Condrey (3.26) have combined to fan 216 batters.

The return of closer Takashi Saito (18 SV,2.49) gives the Dodgers a pair of ninth-inning aces but manager Joe Torre seems to have more confidence in Jonathan Broxton (14 SV,3.13). Rookie right-hander Cory Wade (2-1,2.27) and southpaw Joe Beimel (5-1,2.02) should also play key roles out of the bullpen.
Edge: Philadelphia

Team Offense
The Phillies have a dangerous array of power-hitting sluggers who scored 799 runs (3rd) and won 92 games while hitting just .255. Utley led the team with 113 runs scored followed by Howard (105) and Shane Victorino (102). Jimmy Rollins fanned just 55 times in 556 at-bats but Howard (199), Burrell (136), Jayson Werth (119) and Utley (104) all passed the century mark in strikeouts. The pennant hopes of Philly will come down to how many long balls Ryan and Company hits, period.

Manny Ramirez brought more than his bat to the Dodgers, the former Red Sox slugger has given the Dodgers a quiet confidence and swagger that was missing prior to the blockbuster deal. Manny has stung the ball (.396/.489/.743) since switching leagues with 31 extra-base hits in 53 games. However, the return of Rafael Furcal shores up a strong top of the order with Russell Martin (.280,87 R)which should provide Ramirez, Andre Ethier (.305,77 RBIs), Matt Kemp (.290,76 RBIs) and James Loney (.289,90 RBIs) with plenty of RBI opportunities.
Edge: Philadelphia

Marvin Moore is the Chief MLB Writer for BaseballdeWorld. Contact him at mjmoore@baseballdeworld.com

Tags: USA