The Philadelphia Phillies Are On A Focused Mission
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 17: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts ... [+]
Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Phillies are trying to return to the Major League Baseball World Series.
The Phillies lost the 2022 World Series to the Houston Astros.
Last year, the Phillies had a very difficult road to navigate on their way to facing the Astros on MLB’s biggest stage.
The Phillies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card Series.
The Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series.
The Phillies then defeated the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series.
The Phillies then lost to the Astros, 4-2, in the World Series.
Clearly, the Phillies exceeded expectations in 2022.
Now the calendar has flipped to the 2023 postseason.
The Phillies are two games away from returning to the World Series. They look like a team on a mission!
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The Phillies swept the Miami Marlins in the Wildcard Series.
The Phillies defeated an incredibly strong Atlanta Braves club, 3-1, in the National League Division Series.
Now, the National League Championship Series is down to two teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phillies.
The Phillies have won both of the first two games in the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Behind starter Zack Wheeler, the Phillies defeated the Diamondbacks, 5-2 in the first game.
Starter Aaron Nola yielded only three hits, as the Phillies shut out the Diamondbacks, 10-0 in game two.
The Phillies have hit 19 home runs in their eight playoff games. They have hit six homers so far against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen smiles during practice before the baseball NL Championship Series ... [+]
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reservedAbout the Arizona Diamondbacks:
Perhaps the greatest issue facing the Diamondbacks is their lack of starting pitching depth.
Throughout the season, and during the postseason, the team has relied on ace Zac Gallen and their second rotation starter, Merrill Kelly to carry the pitching staff.
Gallen is a legitimate candidate to win the National League Cy Young Award. He finished the season with a stellar 14-9 record, with a 3.47 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP. Gallen made 34 starts. He threw a solid 210 innings.
Kelly was reliable, throwing 177.2 innings in 30 starts. Kelly had a 12-8 record, with a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
In an era when starting pitching is fragile, the Diamondbacks had difficulty filling out a consistent, quality rotation.
Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, a rookie who has made progress as the season moved along, will likely make the Game 3 start at Chase Field in Phoenix.
It’s possible lefty Kyle Nelson will pitch Game 4, also in Phoenix.
Pfaadt and Nelson can both be characterized by this old scout as “works in progress.”
Both have upside remaining. Both are untested in the rigors and pressures the NLCS offers.
While the Diamondbacks did add closer Paul Sewald at the MLB trade deadline, they failed to add a starting pitcher. They really needed another veteran starter to strengthen and lengthen the rotation.
The Diamondbacks relied upon offensive firepower throughout the regular season, and into the playoffs.
However, Phillies pitching has kept amazing Rookie of the Year candidate, outfielder Corbin Carroll, in check. He has one hit in seven plate appearances in the NLCS.
Quality hitters like Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Christian Walker, and Gabriel Moreno have been held silent in the first two games.
A team with balance between veteran and younger players, if the Diamondbacks are to succeed, every ingredient that brought them to this phase of the postseason must begin to fire on all cylinders.
The Diamondbacks pitchers have to keep the ball in the park, and keep their team in the game.
The Diamondbacks have to get men on base, and let their successful running game put pressure on the Phillies defense. They have to hit. And steal bases. And some power wouldn’t hurt.
That has been the Diamondbacks recipe for victory.
If they get a lead, the bullpen, anchored by closer Paul Sewald, have to close out games.
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a RBI-double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ... [+]
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.About the Philadelphia Phillies:
The Phillies have pitched and slugged their way to a commanding position in the NLCS.
More than likely, lefty Ranger Suarez, and right-hander Taijuan Walker, a former Diamondbacks pitcher, will start the next two games.
In control of the NLCS, the power of hitters like Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos have helped the Phillies take the lead, and continue to add pressure to close out games.
The Phillies are taking their game to the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks are not responding.
The balance between pitching and hitting, along with credible defense have given the Phillies a tremendous advantage in the NLCS so far.
The Phillies have played almost flawless baseball. In two games.
Their World Series experience from last fall has provided impetus for the success the Phillies have had in the playoffs so far this year.
The NLCS requires four victories.
The Diamondbacks are alive, but barely.
Can Arizona come back?
MLB.com indicates 14 teams have rebounded from losing the 1st two games of a 7-game series.
The Diamondbacks have work to do.
The Phillies are on a roll.
Beginning October 19 in Phoenix, the Philadelphia Phillies hope to roll the Diamondbacks right out of the National League Championship Series.
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