The Phillies arrive in Anaheim with that 75-60 momentum acting like a force field around their .243 batting average, while the Angels sit at home collecting 83 losses like unpaid utility bills. It kicks off at 4:07 PM EDT at Angel Stadium, bringing the regular season to the West Coast with coverage on MLB.TV and Angels.TV. Philadelphia’s ball club doesn’t look like the 1927 Yankees, but their collective attack looks like a masterclass compared to the Angels’ sluggish .235 mark. The gap is wide enough to drive a truck through, yet somehow the Angels still manage to find a way to make this feel like a waiting room visit.
On the mound, it’s less of a matchup and more of a science experiment: Zack Wheeler (10-5, 3.40 ERA) is prepared to flex his 148 strikeouts down the throats of a lineup missing Nolan Schanuel who is dealing with the Angels’ 0-4 ace, Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi is dragging a 6.25 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP, which suggests the only thing he's currently winning is the "Most Batters Tired of This" award. The Phillies are missing catcher Rafael Marchan and reliever Caleb Kilian due to injury, but their 4.10 team ERA still makes the Angels' 4.28 look like a defensive liability. See what you think of the situation and lock in your pick on StreakChat.