It could be the best early-season matchup of the season, and you probably have plenty of memories about it.

The Dodgers invade Citizens Bank Park tonight for a three-game set that should be an early litmus test for both teams — and a possible future NLCS matchup.

If you’re at any of the games or watching on TV, the games should be draped in a playoff atmosphere.

In this week’s version of my Behind the Plate column, I’ll take a look at both teams leading into the series, as well as some of past regular and postseason highlights between the two teams.

Test Time ... For both teams, it will be the stiffest competition they have faced in the young season.

The 8-0 Dodgers have looked every bit as advertised, and they easily could be on track to win 105 to 110 games. Sure, the Dodgers will hit a slump, but they’re well stocked with pitching, and manager Dave Roberts has meshed his starters and relievers well.

Clayton Kershaw is one of six pitchers who should return before June, and three more can return later in the season. Shohei Ohtani also is eventually expected to join the mix.

LA handled the Cubs in their two Tokyo games, and they then faced the Tigers in what many anticipated to be one of the better opening series’ showdowns, especially with Blake Snell pitted against defending AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal.

However, the Dodgers swept the Tigers, and then they met the Braves in another awaited series. But the Braves haven’t found their bats, hitting under .150 as a team throughout the first two weeks, and the Dodgers had another sweep.

What’s scary for Phillies fans and the rest of the MLB is that the Dodgers were hitting just .233 (12th in the league), second in runs scored (45), and second in home runs (18). On the mound, the Dodgers’ staff has a 1.97 ERA (second), four home runs allowed (third), and a .192 batting average allowed (fifth).

The 5-1 Phillies haven’t been tested either, as they enter the weekend winning a pair of series against doormats Washington and Colorado, the latter team that just picked up former Phils’ top pick outfielder Mickey Moniak.

Philly arguably has pitching depth on par with the Dodgers, notably with the pickup of veteran spot starter/reliever Joe Ross — who has picked up a win — and expected arrival of top prospect Andrew Painter.

Heading into the series, the Phils are first in hitting (.299), ninth in runs scored (30) and 10th in home runs (eight). They were ninth in team ERA (3.20), eighth in home runs allowed (eight), and 14th in batting average allowed (.217).

The two teams appear to be on equal footing with the initial stark difference between the Dodgers’ pitching and the Phillies’ hitting.

Don’t Lose That Number ... Looking at some all-time statistics between the two, the Dodgers lead the all-time series, 1,186-935-15, but the Phils have a 13-9 slate in the postseason.

Ironically, they’re very close in runs scored per game (Dodgers, 4.5 to Phillies, 4.4) and runs allowed (Phillies, 4.7 to Dodgers, 4.2).

A Hooten Black Friday ... It was the Oct. 7, 1977 afternoon that will live in Phillies’ infamy — Black Friday.

Yet, it began as one of the probable biggest wins for the Phillies in the series between the two clubs, and ended with arguably their most memorable defeat.

It’s one matchup I’ll never forget for its flows and ebbs.

The Dodgers gave their starter Burt Hooten a 2-0 lead heading into the home second at the Vet. With two outs, Hooten walked Ted Sizemore to load the bases.

Hooten then unraveled in one of the game’s biggest breakdowns to the raucous howls and screams from the sold-out crowd of 63,719, walking three straight batters — one being pitcher Larry Christenson with the bases loaded — that gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead. I can still see it today.

Unfortunately, we all know how it ended, in a 6-5 Dodgers victory and the infamous Vic Davalillo bunt.

Who’ll Stop The Rain ... After Black Friday thoroughly rattled the Phillies’ faithful, they had hope with Steve Carlton on the mound the next night, bringing him back on three days rest to save the day. Carlton, outdueled by Tommy John, couldn’t find his mark all night, allowing four runs and five walks in five innings.

Unfortunately, their bad luck continued with a drizzle turning into a steady rain that provided the perfect backdrop. Series MVP Dusty Baker smacked a two-run, second-inning homer, and the Phils never recovered in a 4-1 loss.

A Bake And A Sudden Shake ... In 1978, the Phils seemed on track to fall again to the Dodgers in the NLCS, dropping the first two games at the Vet. In Game Two, they were again stymied by John, who threw a four-hit 4-0 shutout.

But Carlton smacked a second-inning, three-run homer and had four RBIs overall, as well a complete-game, nine-strikeout, 127-pitch effort in a NLCS Game Three 9-4 victory to hopefully swing the momentum.

Bake McBride, who was benched with his .125 average, hit a pinch hit homer in the seventh of Game Four that tied the game at 3-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, Garry Maddox shocked Phillies’ Nation when he dropped a two-out Dusty Baker liner. Tug McGraw had previously walked Roy Cey to keep the inning alive.

Bill Russell then followed with an RBI single off McGraw — who had a 1.59 ERA in the series — to seal the Phils’ fate.

Sarge and Steve Chases The Demons ... With heartbreaking losses in both the 1977 and 1978 playoffs, the Phils finally chased away the Dodgers’ demons in 1983, winning the NLCS series in four games.

Gary “Sarge” Matthews hit his third homer of the series in Game Four to lead the Phils to a 7-2 victory. Matthews hit .429 with three homers and eight RBIs.

Matthews hit a pair of solo homer in Game Three, supporting rookie Charles Hudson’s complete-game, nine strikeout, four-hit performance in a 7-2 triumph.

Carlton was masterful with a 2-0 record, an 0.66 ERA, and 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings in the series.

Since then, the Phils haven’t lost a postseason series to the Dodgers, beating them consecutively in the 2008 and 2009 NLCS. In the 2008 game-clinching Game Five, Jimmy Rollins led off with a homer, becoming the first player in history to hit two leadoff homers in the same postseason.

Nine in The Ninth ... On Aug. 21, 1990, the Phils mounted one of the greatest comebacks — if not the greatest — against the host Dodgers.

Down 11-1 in the top of the eighth, Von Hayes rapped a two-run double the closed the gap, but it was a prelude to things to come.

The Phils sent 14 men to the plate to produce nine runs, highlighted by John Kruk’s three-run homer, and Dale Murphy’s two-run double.

Roger McDowell picked up the victory, and Don Carman notched his first save of the season.

Stockin’ Up For A Marathon ... Some of you will remember a 20-inning marathon in 1993 that ended in a 7-6 Phillies victory on July 7, 1993.

Terry Mulholland started the game and threw 110 pitches over seven innings before he gave way to Roger Mason in the eighth with a 5-3 lead. It appeared to be an early night with Mitch Williams taking over in the ninth.

But Williams lived up to his “Wild Thing” nickname, and the Dodgers tied the game.

Top prospect shortstop Kevin Stocker was called up for his first game, and it would prove t be a momentous one. Stocker threw a strike to catcher Darren Daulton to force an out at the plate and save the go-ahead run in the ninth.

Both teams couldn’t mount any major threat through the next nine innings until the top of the 20th, when the Dodgers plated a run. Stocker’s sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the ninth turned into a hit, and Lenny Dykstra ended the six-hour, 10-minute affair at 1:47 a.m. with a two-run double for a 7-6 victory.

Super Seventies ... In the 1970s, the Dodgers were one of the more successful teams of the decade, posting an overall 910-710 record. They won 102 games in 1974, 98 in 1977, and 95 in 1978.

However, the Dodgers were 0-2 in the World Series, losing to the Yankees twice in six games in 1977 and 1978.

Still, from 1959 through 2024, LA had only nine losing seasons.

Playing Both Sides ... When you think about Phillies who once played for the Dodgers, Rollins, Chase Utley, Fernando Valenzuela, Jay Johnstone and Ted Sizemore may come to mind. Some of you graybeards may remember Don Demeter was in LA before he joined the Phillies in the early 1960s.

Some ex-Phillies and one-hit wonders with the Dodgers you may have forgotten were Mulholland (2001-02), Jim Bunning (1969), Dick Allen (1971), Bobby Abreu (2012), Jim Eisenreich (1998), Shane Victorino (2012) and Jim Thome (2009).

Final Thoughts ... Since 1993, the Phillies have won 93 games and the Dodgers have won 59 over the 174-game span. The Phillies won five of six games last season.

It looms as an interesting series, and the two teams could see each other in the postseason for the first time in 16 years.

Enjoy the games, and let me know what you think.

Your thoughts are always welcomed and will be published; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com.