For the first time since the 2021 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks are WORLD SERIES BOUND. The Diamondbacks did it. They went to Philadelphia and won back-to-back games to advance as the winners of the National League.
Monday’s Pitching Performance
Monday was a pitcher’s performance to remember. Merrill Kelly came into the game facing a red-hot offensive team in the Philadelphia Phillies. Kelly threw 90 pitches and held the Phillies to just a single run in five innings.
The Diamondbacks bullpen came in and got the final 12 outs, allowing just three hits. The offense in Game 1 came in the second inning for Arizona as they scored three runs off Aaron Nola.
Tommy Pham got the party started with a home run to left, and then the next batter, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, hit a bomb to make it 2-0. That was all they needed in the game. Ketel Marte picked up two hits in the win.
Tuesday’s Come from Behind
Tuesday was another low-scoring game. The bullpen was once again fantastic for the Diamondbacks. Brandon Pfaadt went the first four innings of the game and allowed four hits and two runs, but after that, it was lights out. The Phillies did not get a hit after the fifth inning of the game.
Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewld closed the door like they had done the entire second half of the season, and the Diamondbacks did the unthinkable.
The game was tied on a Corbin Carroll single in the fifth, but the Gabriel Moreno RBI gave them a lead they would never give up.
Most Valuable Player of NLCS
Ketel Marte was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. After hitting .276 in the regular season, Marte has been strong in the postseason.
In the series against the Phillies, Marte had a hit in every game. While he does not do it with his power, his ability to get on base and score runs is something Arizona needs badly at the top of that order. Marte finished the series 12 for 31 with four doubles and a triple.
Corbin Carroll was strong in Game 7 for Arizona with three hits. Carroll is now hitting .295 in the postseason after some struggles in the early portion of the series.
Underdogs Again
The Diamondbacks were underdogs at specific points to even make the postseason. Arizona was the underdog in the opening series against Milwaukee. The Diamondbacks were big underdogs against the Dodgers in the divisional series. They came into the Phillies series as the big underdog. With nine postseason wins later, the Arizona Diamondbacks are in the World Series and, once again, underdogs.
The Texas Rangers are favorites at -174, while Arizona is listed at +145. The odds to win the 2023 World Series Most Valuable Player start with a pair of Texas Rangers sluggers.
Corey Seager is at +500, while Adolis Garcia is at +550. Next are Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll. Both of those guys are +1000. Marcus Semien is next at +1400, and Christian Walker is sixth at +1600.
Pitching Rotation and Schedule
The Texas Rangers will host the first two games of the MLB World Series. Arizona will then get three games at home before two more at Texas to wrap it up. This World Series will be a November classic unless it’s done in four games.
The World Series will start on Friday, October 27th in Arlington. Game two will be the next day on Saturday. After taking Sunday off, the Diamondbacks will start their three games at home on Monday, October 30th, and play the 31st and November 1st as well. The series shifts to Game 6 in Texas on Friday, November 3rd, and Game 7 is slated for Saturday, November 4th.
As of now, neither team has announced their starting rotation. But both teams are pretty much in the same boat after going seven games in the last round. The Rangers may have a question, as their Game 1 starter against the Astros, Jordan Montgomery, threw out of the bullpen on Monday.
If he goes on Friday, that’s just three days rest, although he went just 2.1 innings. It is likely the Rangers go with Nathan Eovaldi in Game 1. He is 3-0 this postseason and last pitched October 22nd in Houston. That would put Montgomery in for Game 2 and likely Max Scherzer in Game 3.
For the Diamondbacks, it is almost certain Torey Luvallo will go with Zac Gallen. The staff ace is coming off two tough starts against the Phillies but would be going on an extra day of rest. Merrill Kelly would then be available on normal rest for Game 2, and Brandon Pfaadt coming back for the first game in Arizona on Monday.
Regardless, the Diamondbacks are in the World Series, and we could not be more pumped for them. Go Snakes!
