2023 NLDS - Games 1 and 2 @ Citizens Bank Park
Phillies (90-72) vs. Diamondbacks (84-78)
For the second straight year, the NLCS will contain two Wild Card teams, with the Phillies and DBacks taking each other on. Arizona has yet to drop a game heading into this series, having easily dispatched two division champions already. They’ll have their pitching lined up with Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly for the first two games, but they’ll have to contend with the raucous crowd at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, an unwelcome environment for any opposing player, not to mention a potent offense. The Phillies are back in the NLCS after defeating a pair of division rivals. They will also have their top starters ready to go, with co-aces Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola looking to continue their excellent starts to this postseason. The bats have also been hot, with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos demolishing the opposition so far; however, leadoff slugger Kyle Schwarber has been ice cold through the first two rounds (like last year). They will look for him to get it going. The first two games often set the tone for the rest of this series. Can the Phillies maintain home-field advantage, or can the Snakes steal one before we head out west?
Audio clips from MLB.tv
PHI Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Tom McCarthy, Kevin Stocker
ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
