2008 NLCS Schedule: Philadelphia Phillies Host L.A. Dodgers in Game One on Thursday

It has been more than 20 years since the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers last met in the National League Championship Series but on Thursday the two clubs will reignite a playoff rivalry that hasn’t burned since 1983.

In that series the Phillies dropped 11 of their 12 meetings to the Dodgers but shocked L.A. in the best-of-five series 3-1 to earn a trip to the World Series where they fell to the Baltimore Orioles. In 2008 the two clubs split their eight-game series with both teams wining all four games played at home.

That streak bodes well for the Phillies who will have home field advantage in the seven-game-series that will start on Thursday with Philadelphia putting Cole Hamels (14-10 3.09 ERA) on the hill while the Dodgers counter with Derek Lowe (14-11 3.24 ERA).

Hamels is coming off a strong performance in Game One of the Phillies series against the Milwaukee Brewers in which he threw eight scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Lowe is also building off a win as he collected the Game One decision after allowing two runs over six innings against the Chicago Cubs.

Hamels was 1-0 with a no-decision against the Dodgers earlier this year while Lowe collected a win in his only start against Philly.

First pitch for Game One of the NLCS is scheduled for 8:22 p.m. ET on Thursday.