PHILADELPHIA — The hype writes itself, from the records on down. The Dodgers, at 8-0, visit the Phillies, at 5-1 for a three-game series. Two of the last three National League pennant winners, with a slew of all-stars on the mound and a pressbox chock full to near playoff proportions … it has to mean a lot, right? “Not much,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, of what he might glean about his team over the set starting Friday at Citizens Bank Park. “I pretty much know who they are. Anything can happen on any given day or any given weekend. I don’t think this early in the season, we take too much out of it.” That’s not to say he isn’t excited at the prospect of reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani leading the World Champions into South Philly. Baseball greatness tends to recognize itself in another. But less than 10 games into a 162-game marathon, it’s not going to fuel many durable conclusions. “I heard they were unbeatable, so …,” catcher J.T. Realmuto deadpanned Thursday, after the Phillies’ 3-1 win over Colorado. When asked if the Phillies brought any extra juice into the series against another of the preseason favorites on the senior circuit, Realmuto offered: “I don’t think so. We want to win every game. Every game is important. Obviously, they’re a great team over there, so we’re excited for the challenge.” The respect is shared between clubhouses. Both teams have built lineups with expensive, veteran talent. Both have recently bolstered their starting rotations, new Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo getting the ball Friday and the Dodgers’ latest Japanese import Roki Sasaki on the mound Saturday. The Dodgers are without Freddie Freeman, who aggravated his ankle with a slip-and-fall to land on the injured list Thursday night. But there’s plenty of firepower in both dugouts. The teams are also connected by being occasional boogeymen for those fretting about the state of baseball. From the $330 million doled out to Bryce Harper in 2019 to the Dodgers’ payroll ballooning to more than $300 million, each has been on the receiving end of allegations of ruining the game. To which Harper, of course, has a ready riposte. “I don’t know if people like this, but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing,” Harper said Friday. “I think they’re a great team. They’re a great organization. That’s why guys want to go there and play. LA’s a great city to play in, obviously.” Fans will graft onto this series dreams of an NLCS preview, not for the first time between these clubs. But that’s beyond the scope of Thomson’s current gaze. Harper is just happy to enjoy the challenge of one of the best clubs in baseball. “It’s a good team,” he said. “They had a great year last year obviously clutch hitting, timely pitching, all that kind of stuff. It’s a well-rounded team over there. We’re excited to play them tonight.” • • • Ranger Suarez (back) will throw live batting practice Saturday. He pitched only five innings in spring, the last on March 15, before being shut down, so he’ll require multiple steps in the buildup before returning to the big leagues. Andrew Painter (elbow) had a two-inning appearance Friday, throwing 33 pitches. “They said he pitched very well,” Thomson reported. “Velocity was excellent. Threw a lot of strikes with his offspeed pitches.” The next step for Painter, depending on how he responds, could be a minor league assignment. The club has said it will take things slow with an eye toward him being available toward the end of the season. Weston Wilson (oblique) homered in an appearance against live pitching Friday that lasted several at-bats. The aim is to get him situated for a rehab assignment next week. ...read more read less