2023 NLCS Preview: Diamonbacks vs. Phillies NLCS Preview

The Philadelphia Phillies return to the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive year after a 3-1 NLDS win over the 104-win Atlanta Braves. The Phils will face off against the red hot, upstart Arizona Diamondbacks, who swept the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, in a best-of-seven games series beginning on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. The two clubs met seven times during the 2023 MLB regular season with the Phillies taking the season series, 4-3. The Phillies are looking to become the first National League team to reach back-to-back World Series since the Dodgers in 2017 and 2018. 

Here’s a preview of the 2023 NLCS, Diamondbacks vs. Phillies, including how they got here, storylines to watch, betting odds, matchups and more. 

How They Got Here

Arizona Diamondbacks

• The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the 2023 MLB regular season with an 84-78 record and snuck into the MLB Postseason as the last NL Wild Card team.  It took the D-Backs until the final Saturday of the season to clinch a postseason berth and what they’ve done since has been remarkable.  Arizona has swept through the first two rounds of the postseason, 2-0 over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series and 3-0 over the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. Led by their top two pitchers, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, the D-Backs have been playing with “house money” so far this postseason.  No one expected them to be here and they’re playing cool, calm, expectation-free baseball as a result.
  • NL Wild Card Series: ARZ def. MIL, 2-0
  • NL Division Series: ARZ def. LAD, 3-0

Philadelphia Phillies

• The Phillies finished 2023 MLB regular season with a 90-72 record, good enough for 2nd place in the NL East and the top NL Wild Card spot (4th seed in the NL Postseason bracket).  As the top NL Wild Card team, the Phillies hosted the 2023 NL Wild Card Series at Citizens Bank Park against the Miami Marlins.  Thanks to stellar starting pitching from Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola combined with timely hitting, the Phillies dispatched the Marlins in two games to advance to the 2023 NLDS for the second consecutive season. What followed was another systematic dismantling of the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. Almost a carbon copy of 2022, the Phillies used stellar pitching and the long ball to send home the 104-win Braves in four games.
  • NL Wild Card Series: PHI def. MIA, 2-0
  • NL Division Series: PHI def. ATL, 3-1

Five Things to Watch for in the NLCS

• Who gets the better of the pitching matchups in Game 1 and Game 2?
• Arizona is a right-handed dominant pitching team. Can the Phils’ left-handed bats –looking at you Kyle Schwarber– carry the Phillies lineup?
• The Diamondbacks are playing with “house money” but they’ve been a streaky team all sesason long.  How long can they keep up their hot streak?
• The Phillies enter a postseason series as the favorite — -175 from BetMGM– for the first time in two-seasons.  Will being the “favorite” change the approach for the Fightins?
• Will the seven-game series change Phils’ manager Rob Thomson’s approach to the bullpen?

2023 MLB Postseason Betting Odds from BetMGM

Philadelphia Phillies Postseason Betting Odds	Odds	Play
To Win the World Series	+200
To Win the National League	-175

2023 World Series Projection from FanGraphs

• Arizona- 16.7%

• Phillies- 32.2%

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies: NLCS Projection from FanGraphs

• Arizona- 39.9%

• Phillies- 60.1%

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies: Probable Starting Pitchers

NLCS Game 1: Monday, October 16 | 8:07 PM/EDT

• • ARZ Zac Gallen (2-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. PHI Zack Wheeler (1-0, 2.08 ERA)

NLCS Game 2: Tuesday, October 17 | 8:07 PM/EDT

• • ARZ Merril Kelly (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. PHI Aaron Nola (2-0, 1.42 ERA)

NLCS Game 3: Thursday, October 19 | 5:07 PM/EDT

• • PHI Ranger Suarez (0-0, 1.04 ERA) vs. ARZ Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 3.48 ERA)

NLCS Game 4: Friday, October 20 | 8:07 PM/EDT

• • PHI Cristopher Sanchez or Taijuan Walker vs. ARZ TBD

NLCS Game 5: Saturday, October 21 | 8:07 PM/EDT (if necessary)

• • Likely: Wheeler vs. Gallen

NLCS Game 6: Monday, October 23 | 5:07 PM/EDT (if necessary)

• • Likely: Nola vs. Kelly

NLCS Game 7: Tuesday, October 24 | 8:07 PM/EDT (if necessary)

• • Likely: All Hands

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies: Offensive Leaders (2023 Postseason)

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies: Pitching Leaders (2023 Postseason)

Note: Pitching Stats Are For Starters.

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies: 2023 Head-to-Head

• Philadelphia won the 2023 season series, 4-3.
• Five-games were decided by one-run including two extra-innings games.
• Only one-game, a 15-3 Phillies win, was decided by less than three-runs.

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies: Postseason History

• This is first ever postseason meeting between the two clubs.