While there was excitement surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers because of their trade for Manny Machado during the All-Star break, the second half of the season immediately presented them with a daunting stretch.
On top of embarking on a 10-game road trip, the Dodgers faced 17 games in as many days, with series against division leaders and/or postseason hopefuls. They conquered the first challenge, taking two of three games from the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
They road that momentum into a win against the Philadelphia Phillies in the series opener but then suffered back-to-back losses. The Phillies, who were among the teams that pursued a trade for Machado, are 4-2 since missing out.
Philadelphia enters play Thursday with a 57-44 record, sitting atop the National League East and 1.5 games ahead of the Braves, who now draw the Dodgers for a four-game series.
Rhys Hoskins pointed to the Phillies taking two of three games from the Dodgers as further evidence they are a force to be reckoned with, per Scott Lauber of Philly.com:
“That’s a good team over there, but like I said at the start of the series, we’re a good team, too,” said slugging leftfielder Rhys Hoskins, who homered for the fourth time in five games. “I think we’re past the narrative of, are we a good team? I think to be able to take two of three from the Dodgers, I think we’re here to stay. And it’s exciting.”
Overall, the Phillies went 4-3 in head-to-head meetings with the Dodgers this season. If the current standings hold true, they would meet in the postseason for a third time since 2009.
Philadelphia eliminated the Dodgers from the NL Championship Series in 2008 and 2009, each time in five games.
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