NLDS Review

The 2023 National League Division Series is in the historic books and the championship series is ready to get rolling. But before that action takes place, let’s take a quick look back at the excitement that the NLDS brought to the baseball world.

Snakebitten Dodgers swept in three games

The Arizona Diamondbacks came into Los Angeles and brought the chaos with them. They began Game 1 with nine runs in the first two innings. Corbin Caroll, Tommy Pham and Gabriel Moreno all had multi-hit games.

The Dodgers suffered through the nightmare with some crooked numbers thrown their way. Clayton Kershaw finished the game with a 162.00 ERA, he only completed a third of an inning.

Game 2 saw something very similar when the D-backs jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning. Bobby Miller in his first career playoff start got the same treatment the staff was given in game one. He was pulled after 1.2 innings allowing three runs on four hits.

Zach Gallen got the job done for the Snakes. His pitch sequence left Dodgers hitters confused, striking out four in 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs. Both bullpens did their job, but that early lead for Arizona boosted the team to a 4-2 win in game two.

With the Dodgers on the ropes in Game 3, they would have to travel to the desert for a chance to survive, but the D-backs struck again in the early frames. Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Christian Walker all smacked solo shots in the third inning to jump out 3-0.

Also in the third, Gabriel Moreno wanted to join in on the party, ripping a ball down the first base line but missing a home run by inches. On the very next pitch, Moreno sent one to the left field seats to make it 4-0.

The Dodgers crept back in, but it wouldn’t be enough to complete the comeback. The Arizona Diamondbacks swept another series and punched their ticket to the NLCS with another 4-2 win. Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts put themselves in the MVP conversion this season but went 1-21 combined.

Phillies rout Braves for a second straight year

NL East rivals rematched once again in the NLDS as the Atlanta Braves looked to get revenge against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team that showed them the door in the NLDS last year.

Game 1 started down in Atlanta with Braves ace Spencer Strider taking on Ranger Suarez. It was a pitching duel early on with both pitchers keeping the other team off the board. That was until the fourth inning when Bryson Stott singled to score Bryce Harper for the early 1-0 lead.

Suarez was pitching a gem in this game with one hit through 3.2 innings, but manager Rob Thomson decided to pull him early. The Phillies bullpen was assigned a tough task to protect a thin lead. With a clutch home run by Bryce Harper and more, the Phillies were able to shut out the Braves 3-0.

Game 2 saw Zack Wheeler’s best, striking out seven through three innings. The Phillies jumped out early again while JT Realmuto and Bryson Stott padded the lead to create a 4-0 cushion for Philadelphia.

The Braves would not go away easily in this one as Travis d’Arnaud ended Zack Wheeler’s night putting the Braves within one. Austin Riley would later on bring the fans to their feet with a huge two-run home run to give Atlanta the 5-4 lead.

It all came down to the ninth inning and Bryce Harper pulled off the walk to threaten a possible tying run. Nick Castellanos stood at the dish and smashed one to the right-center field wall, but Michael Harris II pulled off a highlight reel catch to keep it from scoring a run.

The ball was thrown in, picked up by Riley who was at the right place at the right time, and doubled up Harper. The Braves would win and tie the series at one apiece.

Philadelphia came home to a raucous crowd ready to explode in Game 3, and they didn’t have to wait long. With the Braves going up 1-0, the Phillies responded quickly in the third inning putting up a six-run inning on the board. Nick Castellanos and Harper demolished home runs as the fans erupted.

It was all Phillies from there with the game ending 10-2. Castellanos and Harper both had two home runs, The Phillies would tie a record for most home runs in a single playoff game with six.

The Phillies could end the series in Game 4 and the long ball was the story again for this one. It was a lot closer than game three but Castellanos became the first player to have back-to-back multi-home run games in playoff history.

Late-inning heroics in the field and at the dish allowed the Phillies to send the Braves packing for the second straight year after the 3-1 win. MVP frontrunner Ronald Acuña Jr. finished the series with just two hits.

Game 1 of the NLCS between the Diamondbacks and Phillies will begin Monday, Oct. 16.

Anthony Desher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.