loading...
League Logo
MLB
League Logo
CBB
League Logo
NBA
League Logo
MLB
League Logo
NHL
All
    loading...

    Cole Hamels pitches in Philadelphia on Wednesday for first time since 2015 trade

    Cole Hamels won a World Series MVP for the Philadelphia Phillies and will pitch in the City of Brotherly Love as an opponent for the first in his career on Wednesday.
    Hero Image

    One of the biggest story lines around baseball on Wednesday's full schedule is the return of Chicago Cubs pitcher Cole Hamels to Philadelphia (7 p.m. ET first pitch). The southpaw spent 10 seasons with the Phillies, highlighted in 2008 by leading the team to its first World Series title since 1980 and also winning World Series MVP honors against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Phils got back to the Fall Classic the following year but lost to the New York Yankees.

    In 2015, the Phillies were in full rebuild mode so they shipped Hamels at that year's Trade Deadline to the Texas Rangers for six players: catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams, right-handed pitchers Jake Thompson, Alec Asher and Jerad Eickhoff, and lefty Matt Harrison. Thompson was the highest-rated prospect of that group but never amounted to anything and is out of MLB now. Turns out the best player the Phillies got from that deal was probably Alfaro, but he's with the Marlins now.

    (By the way, Hamels' last start as a Phillie was July 25, 2015, and he threw a no-hitter against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.)

    So one would have to say Texas won that deal; the Rangers shipped Hamels to the Cubs last summer. Hamels is set for free agency this winter and has said he would love to end his career back in Philadelphia. This will be his first start as an opponent in Philly. He was with the Cubs last year when they visited Citizens Bank Park but didn't pitch in the series. Hamels (6-3, 3.09) is having a nice season with the Cubbies but struggled last time out against the Reds. He lasted just four innings in a no-decision on May 22 against the Phillies.

    It's a former Phillies ace against the current one as Aaron Nola (10-3, 3.67) takes the mound, and Philadelphia is favored on the MLB odds behind him. Nola lost to the Giants in his most recent outing, allowing three runs over five. He's 2-1 with a 5.11 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs.

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

    Share This Story