The Diamondbacks Punch Their Ticket to the World Series
After taking down the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS, the Arizona Diamondbacks have won the pennant for the first time in over 20 years.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are going to the World Series. With a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, they secured their place in the Fall Classic for the first time since 2001.
Brandon Pfaadt did exactly what he needed to do through four frames, holding the Phillies to two runs on four hits, striking out seven. The bullpen, however, was the star of the show, tossing five scoreless innings and giving up just one hit.
On offense, Corbin Carroll was the big producer, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Gabriel Moreno, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Geraldo Perdomo all provided multiple hits, while Moreno and Christian Walker drove in the other two runs.
It was a team effort, and while the score was close all evening, the Diamondbacks were in control for most of the game. Now, they reap the rewards of their labor: the NL pennant, a trip to the World Series, and a chance to win it all.
Highlights of the Game
The Diamondbacks played well on both sides of the ball, holding the Phillies scoreless over the final five innings of the game and hitting better than their four runs would make you think. They had 11 hits, reaching base in every inning except the fourth.
Take a look at some of the highlights from a hard-fought Game 7, courtesy of our own @JustBB_Media account:
Rest and Recharge
With three days off before the Fall Classic begins on Friday, the Diamondbacks will have Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt lined up to take the ball for the first three games of the series. Manager Torey Lovullo considered using Gallen out of the bullpen in Game 7, but thankfully, he didn’t have to.
Arizona’s top three starters will be vitally important in the World Series. Without a fourth starter, the D-backs will need Gallen, Kelly, and Pfaadt to pitch well (and hopefully deep) in all six of their potential outings.
The bullpen will also get some much-needed rest, after getting plenty of work in the NLCS. The ‘pen has been critical so far in the playoffs, but Lovullo has worked his “circle of trust” hard, and he’ll need Andrew Saalfrank, Kevin Ginkel, and Paul Sewald fresh and ready to go in Texas.
As for the offense, the D-backs just have to keep up their momentum heading into the World Series. The bats were a little hit or miss in the NLCS, but ultimately, they got the job done, and they just need to keep doing what they’re doing: stringing together hits and putting pressure on the opposing pitching staff.
2023 World Series: Diamondbacks vs. Rangers
Until now, the Diamondbacks had played in only one World Series in their 25-year history. The Rangers had made the Fall Classic just twice in 62 years. The D-backs won it all in their lone World Series appearance, while the Rangers have never won a title.
Simply put, it’s an excellent matchup between two teams no one expected to get this far.
A Diamondbacks vs. Rangers pairing is a battle between two red-hot Wild Card clubs. Entering the 2023 campaign, few thought Texas would be this good this soon. Even fewer realized Arizona would be ready to contend. Yet here they are, and after their dominant performances thus far in October, no one can deny they deserve to play on the game’s greatest stage.
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Leo Morgenstern is an editor for Just Baseball and a writer for FanGraphs and MLB Trade Rumors. His work has also appeared at Baseball Prospectus, Pitcher…