Game: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Philadelphia Phillies
Time: 8:07 p.m.
Odds: Diamondbacks +148, Phillies -162
Total: 8
Merrill Kelly is aware of the National League Championship Series’ overarching David vs. Goliath theme. But Kelly and the 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks, two years removed from a 110-loss season and with one player making more than $10 million this year, will have their slingshot ready to go in their biggest game yet tonight after defeating two division champions earlier this month.
Arizona is in Philadelphia for Game 7 of the NLCS tonight and the Diamondbacks will try to extend their improbable October run with a trip to the World Series on the line. The Dbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 2.13 ERA this postseason) against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez (1-0, 0.64).
Tommy Pham and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back home runs to start the second inning of last night’s game and Arizona went on to win 5-1. That forced tonight’s deciding Game 7. The winner of tonight’s game will face the Texas Rangers in the World Series which starts on Friday. The Rangers won Game 7 of the American League Championship Series 11-4 to secure the American League pennant. No matter who they play in the Fall Classic, the Rangers will have the home-field advantage.
The Diamondbacks lost the first two games of the NLCS to the defending NL champion Phillies, who have five players with contracts worth at least $100 million. Arizona lost those two games by a combined score of 15-3. That came after they had swept the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers. Surprisingly, none of those five Phillies with big contracts are Aaron Nola or Kyle Schwarber. Nola is one of only three pitchers in franchise history with at least five postseason victories and Schwarber is one of the most prolific home run hitters in postseason history.
Before dropping Game 5, the Diamondbacks rallied to win Games 3 and 4 in Phoenix. On Monday, however, the Phillies were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and were never able to mount a strong comeback.
After beginning the postseason with seven victories in eight games, a stretch in which Philadelphia outscored the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and Diamondbacks by a combined score of 46-13, the Phillies’ attempt to win a second consecutive pennant has been jeopardized. The Phillies, who faced elimination just once last season when they lost Game 6 of the World Series to the Astros, will play in their first Game 7 in their 141-season history.
Pfaadt and Suarez both recorded zeroes in Game 3 of the series last Thursday, which the Diamondbacks won 2-1. Neither pitcher was involved in the decision. Suarez gave up three hits and struck out seven over 5.1 innings. Pfaadt only allowed two hits and had nine strikeouts. Pfaadt has started three postseason games so far this month. He has never faced the Phillies in a regular season game.
Suarez has played in eight postseason games (six starts), going 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA and one save. In nine regular-season games (six starts), he has a 1-3 record and a 5.09 ERA against the Diamondbacks.
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