Game: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Philadelphia Phillies
Time: 5:07 p.m.
Odds: Diamondbacks +163, Phillies -178
Total: 8
The Philadelphia Phillies have excelled at home this month, and they have a chance to contribute to a rare World Series rematch on Monday. When Philadelphia hosts Arizona in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series tonight, the Phillies will try to clinch their second consecutive National League pennant while the Diamondbacks will try to extend their season. Tonight’s game will start at 5:07 p.m. ET since the Astros lost to the Rangers in Game 6 of the ALCS on Sunday night. Those two teams will play a deciding Game 7 tonight.
The Phillies’ Aaron Nola (3-0, 0.96 ERA this postseason) will take the mound against Merrill Kelly (1-1, 3.00) of Arizona. On Saturday night, Zack Wheeler pitched seven innings of one-run ball, and Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto homered in the Phillies’ 6-1 victory to move them closer to a return trip to the World Series.
Since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017–18, the Phillies are attempting to become the first NL team to win consecutive pennants. The Astros defeated Philadelphia last year after taking a 2-1 series lead, winning the next three games to win their second World Series title. In order to set up the first World Series rematch since the New York Yankees defeated the Dodgers in 1977 and 1978, the Astros and Phillies both need wins tonight.
The Phillies are 6-0 at home this postseason and have outscored the Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, and Atlanta Braves 39-8. Philadelphia had a 6-2 record at home last year in the postseason. The DBacks are optimistic despite missing an opportunity to take the series lead after comeback victories in games three and four.
Arizona thrived in stressful situations, especially on the road, and made it to the NLCS for the first time since 2007. The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers in a best-of-five NL Division Series after sweeping the host Milwaukee Brewers in an NL wild-card series. In the first two games in Los Angeles, they outscored the Dodgers 15-4.
A 2-1 walk-off victory last Thursday and four runs in the final two innings of a 6-5 victory on Friday allowed the Diamondbacks to tie the series. In Game 2 last Tuesday, Nola and Kelly faced off against one another. The Phillies rolled to a 10-0 victory behind Nola’s six scoreless innings during which he allowed just three hits. Before Philadelphia piled on runs against the Arizona bullpen, Kelly gave up four runs in 5.1 innings.
Nola has made eight postseason starts and has a 5-2 record and a 3.25 ERA. All three of Kelly’s playoff starts this month have gone well. In five regular-season starts against the Diamondbacks, Nola is 2-2 with a 7.67 ERA. In three regular-season starts against the Phillies, Kelly is 1-0 with a 2.75 ERA. Philadelphia is 9-3 in its last 12 games and 8-3 in its last 11 at home at Citizens Bank Park.
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