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Phillies' Lefty Trio Poses Tough Challenge for Dodgers in High-Stakes NLDS
4 Oct
Summary
- Phillies missing ace Zack Wheeler, relying on lefties Sanchez, Suarez, Luzardo
- Dodgers struggle against left-handed pitching, going 24-23 this season
- NLDS matchup between two National League favorites for World Series

As of October 5th, 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to meet in the National League Division Series (NLDS), their sixth postseason matchup. The Phillies and Dodgers are widely regarded as the two top contenders in the National League to win the World Series this year.
However, the Phillies will be without their ace, Zack Wheeler, who is out for the season due to injury. This means the Phillies will rely heavily on their left-handed starting pitchers, Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Jesus Luzardo, to take on the Dodgers in the NLDS.
This could pose a significant problem for the Dodgers, as they have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, going just 24-23 against southpaws. In contrast, the Dodgers have been dominant against right-handed pitchers, posting a 69-46 record.
The Phillies' lefty trio of Sanchez (2.50 ERA), Suarez (3.20 ERA), and Luzardo (3.92 ERA) were all among the team's top pitchers this year, and they will look to continue their strong performances against the Dodgers' powerful lineup. If the Phillies' lefties can get rolling, it could spell trouble for the Dodgers in this high-stakes NLDS matchup between two of the National League's best teams.