NLCS Preview

Phillies

For the second year in a row, the Phillies aim to represent the National League in the World Series. They will face off against the Diamondbacks for the NL title.

The Phillies won their NLDS series against the No. 1 Atlanta Braves three games to one. They won their first game in Atlanta 3-0, shutting out the home team. This was the Braves’ first home shutout of the season and their first shutout since May 12. The Braves achieved the best record in the MLB this season.

The Phillies lost the second game after carrying a three-run lead into the sixth inning. It was a tough loss as the final three outs in the top of the ninth involved a right-fielder, Nick Castellanos, flyout into a double play as first baseman, Bryce Harper, was picked off of first and a J.T. Realmuto flyout.

The third game is when the Fightins’ bats came alive as they returned home to Citizens Bank Park, with the series tied 1-1, and mashed five home runs in a lopsided 10-2 victory. Harper and Castellanos hit two home runs each while shortstop, Trea Turner, and left-fielder, Brandon Marsh, each had one.

The Phillies won the series on Thursday, October 12, at home, off of a well-executed game by starting pitcher Ranger Suarez, who gave up three hits and one run in five innings. Their bats were on fire for the second night in a row, especially Castellanos’, who provided back-to-back two home run nights.

Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks swept the regular season 100-62 record NL West champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NLDS.

In Game 1, the Diamondbacks started hot, with a six-run first inning. Their line-up was able to consistently hit Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw, who was removed after recording just one out, opening the game widely in their favor. As an away team, it is important to eliminate the home-field advantage and that is exactly what the Diamondbacks were able to do, earning an 11-2 win.

In Game 2, the D-Backs gained a 3-0 first-inning lead. These consecutive hot starts shifted the momentum of the game in their favor, causing the Dodgers to play all nine innings from behind. This provided them with a 4-2 victory.

Game 3 took the D-Backs a little longer to grasp the lead. They waited until the bottom of the third inning before scoring four runs off of four home runs: Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno.

Preview

Below are likely pitching matchups for games one and two of the NLCS.

Game 1: Zach Wheeler (1-0, 2,08 ERA) vs. Zac Gallen (2-0, 3.18 ERA)

Game 2: Aaron Nola (2-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. Merrill Kelly (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

The Phillies won their regular season matchups against the Diamondbacks, taking four out of the seven games. Out of these seven games, five of them ended with a one-run difference. These two teams have yet to meet in the postseason.

Both teams have had a strong bullpen to support their starters, and both have capitalized on the poor starting pitchers of their opponents in the two previous series.

The D-Backs have outscored their opponents 30-11 in the five games they have played and Phillies have outscored their opponents 31-10 in the six games they have played. This number is fairly even although the D-Backs played one less game than the Phillies combined with the Wildcard and NLDS series.

Ultimately, both teams have gotten hot at the perfect time, the middle of October for postseason baseball. Whatever team can remain the hottest for the longest, in terms of offensive power, starting pitchers, and a bullpen effort, will be the one to advance to the World Series for the NL.

The times for the NLCS series are listed below.

Monday, Oct. 16 Diamondbacks at Phillies 8:07 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Oct. 17 Diamondbacks at Phillies 8:07 p.m. ET

Thursday, Oct. 19 Phillies at Diamondbacks 5:07 p.m. ET

Friday, Oct. 20 Phillies at Diamondbacks 8:07 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 21 Phillies at Diamondbacks 8:07 p.m. ET

Monday, Oct. 23 Diamondbacks at Phillies 5:07 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Oct. 24 Diamondbacks at Phillies 8:07 p.m. ET

Julia Henry is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email jbh6443@psu.edu.