NLCS Bracket 2022: TV schedule, early odds and predictions
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The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres have defeated an established force in the National League to set up an unexpected NLCS matchup.
The Phillies returned to the NLCS for the first time since 2010 and the Padres for the first time since 1998.
Both teams used big hits from offseason and midseason acquisitions to win 3–1 in the NLDS and move on to the NLCS.
Philadelphia’s top bats woke up just in time for the postseason. Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos were great in his two series wins in the first, and Rhys Hoskins came up with some clutch his hits in his NLDS.
San Diego’s Juan Soto and Manny Machado performed well against the Dodgers and pulled their team away from the World Series.
The Padres have home field advantage in the series.
Philadelphia’s bats have been great in the postseason, but they could be slowed down by a rich roster of starters and the best bullpen in the postseason so far.
NLCS TV schedule
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Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Game 1: Tuesday, October 18th
Game 2: Wednesday, October 19th
Game 3: Friday, October 21st
Game 4: Saturday, October 22nd
Game 5: Sunday, October 23rd
Game 6: Monday 24th October
Game 7: Tuesday, October 25th
All games will air on Fox or FS1 at TBD.
Series odds
San Diego -130 (bet $130 and win $100)
Philadelphia +110 (bet $100 and win $110)
Low scoring games can open NLCS
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In the first two games in San Diego, it could be difficult to get runs with both loaded lineups.
Philadelphia can completely rest their ace pair of Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola in games one and two. Wheeler and Nora started Games 2 and 3 against the Atlanta Braves.
Wheeler has 12.1 innings so far this postseason for the Phillies. He gave up his 3 earned runs in his 6th inning to Atlanta in his NLDS, but was otherwise great.
Nola hasn’t given up an earned run in two postseason starts. In Game 3 on Friday, against Atlanta, he pitched six innings with five hits and one earned run.
A fully rested San Diego Hurler set awaits Wheeler and Nora. Bob Melvin should rely on Yu Darvish and Blake Snell in games 1 and 2. Darvish and Snell pitched on the same schedule that Wheeler and Norah did in previous postseasons.
Darvish has allowed only four earned runs in 12 innings against the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. Snell allowed 3 earned runs in his 8.2 innings in this two series.
San Diego’s top two starters have a slight advantage over Wheeler and Nola as they have qualified for the LCS rounds with their previous teams.
The first two pitching matchups in San Diego should produce two epic battles, potentially limiting the two lineups to minimal run production.
This can mean that both teams have a smaller margin of error than the NLDS, which can lead to incredible drama in every innings played.
Joe Musgrove could be the biggest differentiator
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San Diego could be in favor of Philadelphia if the NLCS is dominated by stars in each rotation.
The Padres have the lead with Game 3 starting candidate Joe Musgrove ahead of Ranger Suarez.
Musgrove allowed two earned runs on seven hits in two series-clinching games against the Mets and Dodgers.
The right-handed Hurler is set to start in Game 3 on Friday and could qualify for another series clinching game towards the end of the series.
Musgrove could offer the Padres a key edge as both rotations look set up. A Game 4 showdown between Mike Clevinger and Noah Syndergaard could be his game in the bullpen, as neither Hurler pitched for Long in his NLDS starting lineup.
Bob Melvin and Rob Thomson may not want to give Darvish and Wheeler three days off for Game 4.
Musgrove was injured June 23 against the Phillies, but has made a good recovery over the past month. He finished the regular season allowing one earned run in 22 innings.
Suarez failed to pitch four innings in Game 1 against the Braves and allowed three or more runs in three of his last six regular-season starts.
On paper, San Diego has the upper hand in the series against Musgrove. Suarez could match Musgrove’s pitching in Game 3, but now San Diego has a more proven pitcher to back up the ace.
Series prediction
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Harry Howe/Getty Images
Padres beat Phillies in 7 games
The San Diego and Philadelphia playoff paths are very similar.
They used timely hitting from their stars, great starting pitchers, and lockdown innings with relief pitchers to reach the NLCS.
It’s possible the offense will carry the NLDS’ strong performance into the NLCS, but that’s more likely to happen later in the series when their arms start to tire.
The first two games are toss-ups because of possible Darvish vs. Wheeler and Snell vs. Nora matches. San Diego needs at least one of his wins at home. Philadelphia can steal the game on the street with his one of aces.
Musgrove held a pitching advantage over Suarez in Game 3, and Game 4 could be decided by which bullpen lasts the longest.
Philadelphia has excelled at home in the NLDS, so they can give home fans a few wins and take the series back to San Diego.
San Diego’s pitching depth, not the hitting of Juan Soto or Manny Machado, would ultimately prevail and send them back to the World Series for the first time since 1998.
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