Bodog Beat

With one swing of the bat, Matt Stairs became a hero. (AP Images)

The big Canadian came off the bench Monday and hit the eventual game-winning home run as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5. That gives the Phillies a 3-1 lead in their NLCS matchup going into Wednesday’s Game 5 at Chavez Ravine.

The Phillies will be the favorites to close out the series as they send ace Cole Hamels to the mound. The Dodgers respond with their best pitcher this year, Chad Billingsley.

• Hamels: 3.09 ERA, 145 ERA+, 3.78 xFIP, 3.88 tRA, 56.3 VORP
• Billingsley: 3.14 ERA, 141 ERA+, 3.74 xFIP, 3.77 tRA, 51.6 VORP

These are two equally good pitchers if you look at their regular season numbers, even after adjusting for defense. But Billingsley was rocked for seven earned runs in Game 2, while Hamels has thrown five quality starts in a row.