Philadelphia leads the series 2-0
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME 2 RECAP: The Phillies shut out the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10-0, in Game 2 of the 2023 NLCS at Citizens Bank Park … Starter Aaron Nola picked up the win with 6.0 scoreless innings – he allowed only 3 hits with 0 walks and 7 strikeouts … Trea Turner put the Phils up 1-0 with a solo homer in the 1st inning before Kyle Schwarber hit the first of his 2 home runs on the night in the 3rd inning to put the Phils up 2-0 … The Phillies scored 4 runs in both the 6th and 7th innings – Schwarber, Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto each had multi-hit games.
FLAGS FLY FOREVER: The Phillies are back in the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive year after winning their 8th pennant in franchise history last season, a 4-1 series win over the San Diego Padres … This marks the 11th NLCS in franchise history (1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022, 2023) … All time, the Phillies are 28-21 in the NLCS (.571 win %) and 6-4 in series play … Since 1980, the Phillies are 26-12 in the NLCS with a .684 winning percentage that ranks 1st among all 12 MLB clubs who have played at least 30 LCS games … Since 1980 at home in the NLCS, the Phillies are 16-4 (.800 win %) which includes an 11-2 record at Citizens Bank Park (.846 win %).
HARD TO TOP THAT: With Tuesday night’s win in Game 2 of the NLCS, the Phillies improved to 18-7 under Rob Thomson in the postseason (since 2022) … Thomson is only the 3rd manager in MLB history to win 18 of the first 25 postseason games to begin a managerial career … He is joined by two Hallof-Famers: Joe McCarthy went 18-7 with the Cubs and Yankees from 1929-39 and Casey Stengel went 18-7 with the Yankees from 1949-53.
I’M OFF ON THE ADVENTURE: Today’s starter Ranger Suarez has pitched in 7 postseason games for the Phillies – they are 7-0 in those games and he has a 1.16 ERA in the postseason (3 ER, 23.1 IP) … Suarez has faced 92 batters in the playoffs and limited them to a .155/.228/.238 slash line (.466 OPS) … Among all lefthanded pitchers in MLB history to face at least 90 batters in the postseason, Suarez’s .466 opponents OPS ranks 6th behind only Jeremy Affeldt (.385 OPS, 111 BF), Jon Matlack (.444 OPS, 97 BF), Hippo Vaughn (.449 OPS, 94 BF), Eddie Plank (.458 OPS, 210 BF) and Sandy Koufax (.463 OPS, 211 BF) … Suarez has made 5 starts and has 2 relief appearances in the postseason – He was summoned to close out Game 5 of the 2022 NLCS against the Padres and sent the Phillies to the World Series as he picked up a save with 0.2 scoreless innings pitched – he also made a scoreless appearance in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series against the Astros.
LEGEND OF THE FALL: Two-time MVP (2015 & 2021) and 2022 NLCS MVP Bryce Harper has played 25 postseason games for the Phillies – in 106 plate appearances, Harper is slashing .360/.457/.775 with a 1.232 OPS, 22 runs, 7 doubles, 10 home runs, 20 RBI and 15 walks … Harper’s 1.232 postseason OPS with the Phillies ranks 2nd in MLB history for any player’s first 25 postseason games with a club – he trails only Lou Gehrig who posted a 1.323 OPS in his first 25 games with the Yankees from 1926-36 – SF’s Barry Bonds ranks 3rd (1.229 OPS), TB’s Randy Arozarena ranks 4th (1.192 OPS) and STL’s David Freese ranks 5th (1.189 OPS) … In 72 plate appearances against right-handers, Harper has posted a 1.381 OPS and in 34 plate appearances against left-handers, Harper has a .930 OPS … The Phillies are 16-2 in the postseason when Harper scores a run (.889), 9-0 when he homers and 10-0 when he knocks in a run.
HARPER, RUTH, GEHRIG: In 44 games and 195 postseason plate appearances in his career, Bryce Harper is slashing .291/.392/.642 with a 1.034 OPS … Among all players in MLB postseason history (min. 150 PA), Harper’s 1.034 OPS ranks 3rd behind only Babe Ruth (1.211 OPS in 167 PA) and Lou Gehrig (1.208 OPS in 150 PA) … Harper’s .642 SLG also ranks 3rd all-time in the postseason, behind only Ruth (.744 SLG) and Gehrig (.731 SLG).
TURNED HIM LOOSE: Shortstop Trea Turner has reached base safely in 19 of his 34 plate appearances this postseason and he has as many stolen bases (4) and walks (4), as he does strikeouts (4) … Turner is 15- for-30 at the plate (.500 AVG) with a .559 OBP and .967 SLG and has posted a 1.525 OPS through 8 games … Turner has hit safely in all 8 games and has an extra-base hit in 7 of his 8.
SINCE THE OVATION: Since Aug. 5, the day after the ovations, Bryce Harper (1.136 OPS in 244 PA) and Trea Turner (1.132 OPS in 241 PA) rank 1st and 2nd among all MLB players in OPS (regular and postseason combined) – among the 90 players in MLB with 200 regular and postseason plate appearances since Aug. 5, the Phillies have 4 of the top 22 players in OPS in Harper, Turner, Kyle Schwarber (11th at .979) and Nick Castellanos (22nd at .892) … The Phillies rank 1st in MLB with an .849 OPS since Aug. 5 (ATL, .835) BALL GO BOOM: This postseason, the Phillies have outhomered the opposition 19-4 and dating back to last postseason, have hit 43 home runs compared to the 21 Phillies pitching has permitted … The Phillies have 38 extra-base hits this postseason (19 2B, 19 HR) and have posted a .575 SLG and .940 OPS in 299 plate appearances … Over their last four games (since Game 3 of the NLDS vs ATL), the Phils have hit at least 3 home runs in each game for a total 15 (3.8 HR per game), while slashing .315/.400/.731 in 150 plate appearances … Philadelphia’s 15 home runs over those four games are the most in postseason history by a club over any four-game span in a single year – the previous mark was 13 HR in four games, held by the 2008 Rays and 2020 Yankees … The Phillies are only the second team in MLB postseason history to hit 3+ home runs in four consecutive games (other: TB, 10/11-16/08) … Philadelphia’s 19 home runs this postseason rank T-3rd in franchise history (with 2008), and trail only 25 HR in 2009 and 24 HR in 2022.
ARMS RACE: Through 8 postseason games, Phillies pitching has combined to post a 1.39 ERA (11 ER, 71.0 IP) while holding the 271 batters they have faced to a .466 OPS … The Phillies have allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in 7 of their 8 games and 1 earned run or none in 5 of 8 … Philadelphia’s starters have a 1.55 ERA (8 ER, 46.1 IP) with 51 strikeouts to 4 walks (12.75 SO/BB ratio) and the bullpen has a 1.09 ERA (3 ER, 24.2 IP) … Of Philadelphia’s 71.0 combined innings pitched this postseason, 61.0 have been scoreless.
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: The Phillies are 28-11 all time in the postseason at Citizens Bank Park with a .718 winning percentage that is the best in MLB history for any club to play 30+ postseason games at their home venue (Elias) … NYM (.667) at Shea Stadium (1969-2006) ranks 2nd, STL (.660 win %) at Busch Memorial Stadium (1967-2005) ranks 3rd, BAL (.633 win %) at Memorial Stadium (1966-83) ranks 4th and NYY (.627 win %) at Yankee Stadium I (1923-2007) ranks 5th … After losing their first 2 postseason games at CBP, Game 1 & 2 of the 2007 NLDS vs COL, the Phillies are 28-9 in the postseason at CBP since 2008 with a .757 winning percentage that ranks 1st among all MLB teams at home since 2008 (min. 20 G), in front of SF (.643), HOU (.620), LAD (.603) and NYY (.595) … The Phils reached 25 postseason wins at CBP in only 36 games which is tied for the fastest to 25 wins in MLB history at a home venue during the postseason with the Mets at Shea Stadium (also 25-11) … The Phillies have won 11 straight postseason games against the National League at home which is the longest such streak by either the NL or the AL against its own league in MLB history.
YOU’RE SO GOLDEN: The Phillies have four finalists for the Gold Glove Award at their respective positions … Second baseman Bryson Stott, catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitchers Taijuan Walker and Zack Wheeler … Walker and Wheeler ranked in the top four among all pitchers in Defensive Runs Saved (Walker ranked T-2nd with 5 and Wheeler ranked T-4th with 4) … Stott ranked T-4th among all players in Major League Baseball with 17 Outs Above Average … Realmuto led all catchers again with an average 1.83 pop time to second base.
NLDS RECAP: The Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves, 3-1, in the 2023 National League Division Series … It marked Philadelphia’s second consecutive NLDS win over Atlanta … The Phillies won Games 1, 3 and 4 as they were led offensively by five players who posted OPS’ over 1.200: Nick Castellanos (1.796), Bryce Harper (1.765), Trea Turner (1.441) and Brandon Marsh (1.212) … Phillies’ starters combined to post a 2.18 ERA (5 ER, 20.2 IP) in 4 starts and Philadelphia’s relievers combined for a 1.26 ERA (2 ER, 14.1 IP
SEASON RECAP: The Phillies woke up on June 3 (the one-year anniversary of Rob Thomson’s first game as manager) seven games under .500 at 25-32 and from that point on, went 65-40 with a .619 winning percentage that ranked T-3rd among all clubs in MLB (with BAL), behind only ATL (.676) and LAD (.625) … On Sept. 26, the Phillies clinched the top wildcard spot and their second consecutive postseason appearance with a walk-off win over the Pirates … The Phillies slugged 220 home runs this season which ranked 2nd in club history (224 in 2009) but they set a franchise record with 121 home runs after the All-Star break … The Phillies had six different players with 20+ home runs which set a franchise record … Zack Wheeler led all pitchers in MLB in fWAR (5.9) as Philadelphia’s pitching combined for 24.4 fWAR which led MLB and was 6.3 wins in front of SD who ranked 2nd in the NL at 18.1 fWAR.
CITIZENS BANK SPARK: The Phillies went 49-32 at CBP this season with a +83 run differential (418-335) that was their best mark at home since they were +114 at home in 2011 (367-253) … Of their 26 home series this season, the Phillies won 17 of them … Philadelphia’s 49 wins and .605 winning percentage were both tied for 3rd-best in CBP history (since 2004), behind only the 2010 club (54-30, .643) and the 2011 team (52-39, .642) … The Phillies reached 3,000,000 in attendance for the 9th time in the history of CBP and for the first time since 2013 … Philadelphia saw their attendance increase by over 9,500 per game from a season ago which was the most of any club in MLB.
IN COMPANY WITH COOPERSTOWN: On Sept. 12, Bryce Harper became only the 18th player in Major League Baseball history to reach 1,500 career hits and 300 home runs before turning 31 years old … He is joined by Hall-of-Famers Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Mell Ott, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Jr. and Vladimir Gurrero … Of the 18 players in MLB history with 1,500 hits and 300 home runs before turning 31, the only ones currently not in the Hall of Fame are Harper, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Andruw Jones, Alex Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez … Of those 18 players with 1,500 hits and 300 home runs before turning 31, only four had 900+ walks at the time: Mantle (973), Harper (947), Mathews (910) and Gehrig (909).
GET ME TO THE PLATE BOYS: In “Close & Late” situations (7th inning or later with the batting team ahead by one run, tied, or with the tying run on base, at bat or on deck), Bryce Harper had 91 plate appearances this season and slashed .387/.495/.667 with a 1.161 OPS that was the best in MLB – he reached base safely in 45 of those 91 plate appearances … Per FanGraphs, Harper ranked 2nd in MLB this year in Win Probability Added at 5.77 – he trailed only Ronald Acuna Jr. (6.87) – Mookie Betts ranked 3rd behind Harper at 5.21.
LEADING MAN: Leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber had a career-high 126 walks this season which is T-4th in Phillies franchise history for a single year with HOF Billy Hamilton who had 126 in 1894 … Bobby Abreu ranks 3rd with 127 in 2004 and HOF Mike Schmidt ranks 2nd with 128 in 1983 … The franchise record for walks in a season is 129, set by Lenny Dykstra in 1993 … Schwarber ranked 2nd in MLB this year in both walks and walk rate (17.5%), trailing only Juan Soto in both (132, 18.6%) … After he was moved back to the leadoff spot on 6/2, the Phillies went 65-41 (.613 win %) – In that span, they went 46-16 when Schwarber scored a run (.742) and 24-7 in the 31 games he homered (.774) … Schwarber hit a franchise record 11 leadoff home runs this season which eclipsed Jimmy Rollins’ previous record of 9 in 2007.
120 WALKS, 100 RUNS, 100 RBI, 45 HOMERS: Kyle Schwarber (126 BB, 108 R, 104 RBI, 47 HR) is one of only 13 MLB players since 1920 (when RBI became official) with a 120 walk/100 R/100 RBI/45 HR season … Babe Ruth did so eight times, Barry Bonds four times, Mark McGwire two times, and Lou Gehrig, Chipper Jones, Aaron Judge, Harmon Killebrew, Ralph Kiner, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Mike Schmidt & Jim Thome all did so once.
SCHWARBER, McGWIRE, RUTH: In his first two seasons in Philadelphia (since 2022), Kyle Schwarber hit 93 home runs which ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Aaron Judge (99 HR) and he walked 212 times which also ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Juan Soto (267 BB) … Schwarber is only the 3rd player in MLB history with 90+ home runs and 200+ walks through any player’s first two seasons with a club: Mark McGwire with St. Louis from 1997-98 (94 HR, 205 BB) and Babe Ruth with the Yankees from 1920-21 (113 HR, 294 BB).
AMONG THE GREATS: Right-hander Craig Kimbrel finished the year with 1,191 career strikeouts which ranks 5th among all relief pitchers since at least 1893 (Elias) … Of the four relief pitchers currently in front of Kimbrel on the strikeout list, three are Hall of Famers (Hoyt Wilhelm –
1,363 SO, Goose Gossage – 1,340 SO, Lee Smith – 1,225 SO) and the other is Billy Wagner (1,196 SO), Kimbrel’s former teammate, who received 51.0% of the vote this past year, his 7th on the ballot … Kimbrel was selected as an All-Star for the 9th time in 2023 and picked up his first career save in an ASG … Kimbrel is only the 13th pitcher in history with 9+ career selections to the ASG – of those 13 players, 9 are in Cooperstown: Warren Spahn (14 ASG), Mariano Rivera (13 ASG), Tom Seaver (12 ASG), Tom Glavine (10 ASG), Randy Johnson (10 ASG), Steve Carlton (10 ASG), Goose Gossage (9 ASG), Juan Marichal (9 ASG) and Carl Hubbell (9 ASG) – the only four pitchers with nine+ ASG selections who are not in the HOF are Roger Clemens (11 ASG), Clayton Kershaw (10 ASG), Justin Verlander (9 ASG) and Kimbrel … He currently ranks 8th in MLB history with 417 saves.
TURNED HIM LOOSE: Shortstop Trea Turner had a career-high 66 extra-base hits in his first season in Philadelphia … He also hit 26 home runs, scored 102 runs and was a perfect 30-for-30 in stolen base attempts … Dating back to last season, Turner is 35-for-35 in stolen base attempts – his 100.0% success rate this season is the highest since 1951 among all MLB players who attempted at least 30 stolen bases in one season (previous: Brady Anderson in 1994 & Carlos Beltran in 2001, both 31-for-32/96.9%) … From Aug. 4 through the end of the season, (48 G), Turner slashed .337/.389/.668 with a 1.057 OPS (211 PA) that ranked 4th out of 143 qualified players in MLB.
ARMS RACE: The Phillies starting rotation led the National League with 899.0 innings pitched this year which ranked 3rd in MLB, behind only SEA (901.1) and HOU (900.0) … Philadelphia’s rotation put up 17.7 fWAR as a staff which ranked 1st among all MLB rotations (next: MIN, 16.5) and was 3.2 wins in front of the next closest NL club (SD, 14.5) … Consequently, Philadelphia’s bullpen threw the fewest innings of any relief corps in MLB this year with 543.1, yet Philadelphia’s relief pitchers combined for 6.7 fWAR which was 3rd in MLB behind LAD (7.6) and BAL (7.5) … Combined (SP & RP), Phillies pitching put up 24.4 fWAR this year which was the best in MLB (next: TB, 20.6) and was 6.3 wins in front of SD who ranked 2nd in the NL with 18.1 fWAR.
HATS OFF TO YOU, THOMS: Phils’ skipper Rob Thomson is only the second manger in MLB history to reach the League Championship Series in their first two years as manager – he joined Mike Matheny, who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to the NLCS in his first two seasons from 2012-13 … Thomson, the 56th manager in Phillies history, is the only one of those 56 to reach the postseason in their first two seasons as manager of the Phillies … Per Baseball Reference, there have been 838 managers in MLB history – of those 838, Thomson is one of only 13 to reach the postseason in their first two seasons as a manager (per Elias) … In chronological order, he is joined by John Schneider (2022-23), Rocco Baldelli (2019-20), Aaron Boone (2018-19), Jeff Banister (2015-16), Matheny (2012-13), Ron Gardenhire (2002-03), Bob Brenly (2001-02), Larry Dierker (1997-98), Ralph Houk (1961-62), Mickey Cochrane (1934-35), Bucky Harris (1924-25) and Hughie Jennings (1907-08) … Since Thomson took over on June 3, 2022, the Phillies are 155-118 with a .568 winning percentage that ranks T-6th in MLB.
NLCS GAME 3 STARTER
RANGER SUÁREZ • LHP #55
2023: 4-6, 4.18 ERA Career: 29-21, 3.41 ERA
LAST START: 10/12 vs ATL (NLDS G4): W, 5.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 0 BB, 2 SO … Suárez vs Strider … The Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves, 3-1, in the 2023 National League Division Series … It marked Philadelphia’s second consecutive NLDS win over Atlanta … The Phillies won Games 1, 3 and 4 as they were led offensively by five players who posted OPS’ over 1.200: Nick Castellanos (1.796), Bryce Harper (1.765), Trea Turner (1.441) and Brandon Marsh (1.212) … Phillies’ starters combined to post a 2.18 ERA (5 ER, 20.2 IP) in 4 starts and Philadelphia’s relievers combined for a 1.26 ERA (2 ER, 14.1 IP)
TODAY’S START:
- Legend in the Making: In his first two starts this postseason, Suárez has posted a 1.04 ERA (ER, 8.2 IP) while allowing 4 hits, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts … He has held batters to a .133/.161/.233 slash line (.395 OPS) while posting a 0.58 WHIP … He only allowed 6 base runners in his first 2 starts this postseason … He is one of 5 pitchers to allow 6 or fewer baserunners in their first 2 starts of a postseason in the Modern Era and the first since Gio González allowed 6 from 10/12-16/18 … With today’s start, Suárez will tie Cliff Lee for the 3rd most starts by a left hander in Phillies postseason history
- Octoberfest: Through his first 7 career postseason appearances (5 starts), Suárez has a 1.16 ERA (3 ER, 23.1 IP) … Among Phillies pitchers with at least 20.0 IP in the postseason, Suárez has the best ERA in franchise history (2nd: Brad Lidge, 1.77) … In the Modern Era (since 1901), he is one of 8 pitchers to have an ERA of 1.20 or lower in their first 7 postseason appearances (min. 20.0 IP) … He is 1 of 2 pitchers to do so since 2000, joining Stephen Strasburg, who posted a 1.10 ERA from 10/3/14- 10/14/19 … He also joins Dave Dravecky (0.35), Bruce Kison (0.41), Sandy Koufax (0.88), Harry Breechen (0.83), Christy Mathewson (0.83) and Orval Overall (1.12) … The Phillies have won all 7 postseason games in which Suárez has appeared
- Postseason Hero: Suárez went 2-0 with a save and a 1.23 ERA (2 ER, 14.2 IP) and held opponents to a .167/.262/.241 slash line in 3 starts and 2 relief appearances during the 2022 pennant-winning run … That included a included a 0.79 ERA (1 ER, 11.1 IP) in the NLCS and WS … Suarez became the only Phillie ever with a win in a start and a save in relief in the same postseason, doing so all in one series (NLCS) – something no pitcher had done in an NLCS/WS since Madison Bumgarner in 2014 … His win came in a pivotal Game 3 of the NLCS and his save in the clinching Game 5, entering with 2 on and 1 out up by just 1 run … He pitched 5.0 shutout innings and allowed three hits in Game 3 of the WS, becoming the first Phillie ever to deliver at least 5.0 scoreless IP in a WS game … Suarez was the first international signee to make a postseason start for the Phillies
- Pitch Usage: Sinker (28%), 4-Seam Fastball (21.5%), Curveball (19%), Changeup (18.4%), Cutter (12.5%), Slider (0.6%)
ROAD:
- 2023: 3-3, 2.75 ERA (18 ER, 59.0 IP) in 10 starts
- Career: 14-12, SV, 3.05 ERA (76 ER, 224.1 IP) in 67 games (31 starts)
- Postseason: 0-0, 1.17 ERA (ER, 7.2 IP) in 3 games (2 starts)
SUÁREZ – POSTSEASON
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023: 1-0 1.04 2 2 8.2 4 1 1 1 6
Career: 3-0 1.16 7 5 23.1 13 4 3 7 19
2023 SEASON:
- Trouble With the Curve: Suárez threw his curveball 384 times in 125.0 IP this season after only throwing it 198 times in 155.1 IP last year … He held batters to a .143 average (12-84) with his curveball and struck out 35 batters with a whiff rate of 37.7% … Among NL pitchers (min. 50 PA), Suárez’s curveball ranked 5th in OPP AVG, 8th in strikeout % (39.8%) and 16th in whiff %
- Recorded a ground ball % of 48.5% and ground ball/fly ball rate of 1.58, both of which were 10th among all National League pitchers with at least 100.0 IP … Since 2021, his 54% ground ball % is 4th in MLB and 3rd in the NL … Since Fangraphs began tracking batted ball stats in 2002, Suarez’s career GB % of 53.9% ranks 1st among Phillies pitchers (min. 250 IP)
- Road Warrior: Suárez had a 2.75 ERA (18 ER, 59.0 IP) on the road this year … His road ERA was the 3rd best in the NL and 7th best in MLB (min. 10 starts) … In 9 of his last 10 road starts, Suárez allowed 3 earned runs or fewer and 6 of those starts were quality
- On 9/10, Suárez took a no-hitter into the 7th inning and struck out a career-high 10 batters while only allowing 2 hits … It was his most strikeouts in a game since striking out 9 on 10/1/21
- Recorded a 5-game streak with at least 6 IP and 1 or no runs (6/4-27) … It was the 10th time a Phillies pitcher had done so and the first time since Cole Hamels in 2014
- Posted a 17.0-inning scoreless streak (6/9-20)
- Struck out at least 7 batters in a career-high four straight starts (6/9-27)
- On 8/13, Suárez struck out 8 batters for the third time this season … It is the first time in his career he has had 3 games with at least 8 strikeouts in a single season … The last Phillies lefty to have 3 such games in a single year was Drew Smyly in 2019
- Was the first international signee to make a postseason start for the Phillies and his three starts tied him with Pedro Martinez for most ever by a non-U.S.- born pitcher
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
MARTE CONTINUES: Ketel Marte has hit safely in each of his 11 career Postseason games (.362/.681 SLG; 17-47 AB, 7 XBH) to become the fi rst D-backs’ player in franchise history to do so (9th in MLB history).
♦ Marte joins Orlando Arcia/MIL, Roberto Alomar/ TOR and Thurman Munson/NYY, who also met the feat.
♦ Only 5 others have had longer hit streaks to begin a Postseason career: Marquis Grissom (15), Greg Luzinski (13), Elvis Andrus (12), Nelson Cruz (12) and Darin Erstad (12).
MORENO JUST GETTING STARTED: At 23 years and 245 days, Gabriel Moreno became the youngest D-backs’ catcher to record a caught stealing in a Postseason (Oct. 17 @ Phillies, Bot 1, B. Harper CS 2B) and fifth overall D-backs’ catcher to do so, joining Rod Barajas (2 – 2001-02), Damian Miller (2 – 2001-02), Chad Moeller (1 – 2002) and Chris Iannetta (1 – 2017).
♦ MLB Catchers to record a caught stealing in a Postseason over the past 40 years under the age of 24 (going by age at first career recorded caught stealing in a Postseason)
FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN THE POSTSEASON: The D-backs shutout loss in Game 2 of the NLCS marked the first time in franchise history they were shut out in the Postseason, after 46 consecutive games…the 46- game streak without being blanked was the second-longest active streak in the Majors, behind Minnesota’s current 67-game streak.
D-BACKS POSTSEASON HOMER STREAK HALTED: Arizona’s Postseason homer streak ended at 17 consecutive Postseason games dating back to the 2007 NLCS Game 3 @ Rockies, which marked the second-longest streak in MLB Postseason history, behind the Yankees (23 games from 2019-22):
POWER OF YOUTH: The D-backs’ 9 home runs hit by players age 23 or younger are tied for the second most in a single Postseason (also: 2017 Astros), behind the 2015 Cubs (11) [courtesy: Sarah Langs]…the D-backs’ players age 23 or younger have collected 9 home runs in a 7-game span while the Cubs and Astros played an average of 13 games in their respective Postseason runs.
♦ With Geraldo Perdomo, Corbin Carroll, Gabriel Moreno and Alek Thomas, the D-backs are the third team in Postseason history with 4 players age 23 or younger with a home run in a single Postseason, joining:2020 Braves (Riley, Pache, Albies, Acuña Jr) and 2015 Cubs (Bryant, Schwarber, Soler, Báez).
♦ Corbin Carroll (age 23-047), Alek Thomas (age 23-162), Gabriel Moreno (23-235) and Geraldo Perdomo (23-354) became the first, second, third and fourth-youngest D-backs players, respectively, in franchise history to hit multiple home runs in a Postseason.
♦ Corbin Carroll also became the third D-backs’ rookie to hit multiple home runs in a Postseason run, joining Mark Reynolds (2007) and Paul
Goldschmidt (2011).
♦ Gabriel Moreno is the first catcher at age 23 or younger to collect 3+ homers in a Postseason.
1-2 PUNCH: Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte, during this Postseason, have combined to hit .327 (18-for55)/1.003 OPS with 3 doubles, 4 homers, 8 RBI, 7 walks and 3 stolen bases.
STEADY BULLPEN: D-backs’ relievers, in their last 31 games since Sept. 5, have a 2.38 ERA (34 ER in 128.1 IP) and .206 OPP AVG.
♦ Arizona features the only bullpen remaining to not allow a home run this Postseason.
NO CHASE ZONE: Entering today, Geraldo Perdomo’s 16.3% chase rate is third among remaining players this Postseason (min. 40 out-of-zone pitches) while Christian Walker’s 17.3% is fourth.
RECORD VS. PHILLIES: The D-backs’ 24-15 (.615) regular-season record vs. Phillies since 2017 was the best among non-NL East opponents in the span.
STARTING PITCHER: RHP BRANDON PFAADT (FOUGHT) ♦ #32
AT A GLANCE: Entered this season as the D-backs’ No. 4 prospect by The Athletic (No. 38 overall) and MLB Pipeline (No. 59 overall).
- Turned 25 on Sunday.
- Made 18 Major League starts and went 3-9 with a 5.72 ERA (61 ER in 96.0 IP) over 3 stints in his first season with Arizona.
- Named the D-backs’ 2022 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after he led the organization in wins, ERA and strikeouts and went 11-7 with a 3.83 ERA (71 ER in 167.0 IP), 218 strikeouts and 1.16 WHIP in 29 starts between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno.
- D-backs’ fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft out of Bellarmine University (2018-20), their second-highest pick behind Todd Wellemeyer (4th round, 2000).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his third career Postseason start and second @ Chase Field.
LAST START: Tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in his second career Postseason start and first @ Chase Field on Oct. 11 vs. Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS.
- Became the youngest (24-361) D-backs’ pitcher to start a home Postseason game in franchise history (previous: Josh Collmenter (25-239) vs. Brewers on Oct. 4, 2011 in NLDS Game 3) [source: Elias Sports Bureau].
VS. PHILLIES: Is making his first career start against the Phillies.
ROOKIE RANKINGS: Ranked among National League rookie pitchers in the regular season in starts (8th, 18), innings pitched (8th, 96.0) and strikeouts (T-9th, 94).
WILD CARD RECAP: Made his Postseason debut in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card on Oct. 3 @ Brewers (3 ER in 2.2 IP)
- Was the second-youngest (24-353) pitcher to start a Postseason game in franchise history behind Daniel Hudson (24-207) on Oct. 2, 2011 @ Brewers.
- Became the third rookie in franchise history to start a Postseason game (also: Josh Collmenter/2011 vs. MIL and Micah Owings/2007@ COL [source: Elias Sports Bureau].
LUCKY NO. 7: This season, Pfaadt recorded 2 road starts of 7.0 innings with 2 or fewer hits and 1 or fewer runs (Aug. 3 @ Giants and Aug. 18 @ Padres)… was 1 of 3 rookies to accomplish the feat (also: Kodai Senga/NYM and Hunter Brown/HOU).
SWEEPING TIME: Limited hitters to a .181 average (23-for-127) with 45 strikeouts off his
sweeper.
SCORELESS STREAK: Owned a 12.2 inning scoreless streak from 8/13/23 vs. SD (2nd inning) – 8/25/23 vs. CIN (2nd inning).
DEBUT DETAILS: Made his Major League debut on May 3 @ Rangers ( 7 ER in 4.2 IP).
- Became the second D-backs starting pitcher to make their MLB debut @ Rangers and first @ Globe Life Field (last: Nelson Figueroa on June 3, 2000).
- Was the first D-backs starter to make his debut in 2023…in 2022, Arizona had 3 starters make their MLB debuts: Tommy Henry on Aug. 3, Ryne Nelson on Sept. 5 and Drey Jameson on Sept. 15.
RENO REVIEW: Went 6-2 with a 3.71 ERA (25 ER in 60.2 IP) and 69 strikeouts in 12 starts with Reno this season.
- In his last start with the Aces on July 16 earned the win @ Las Vegas, tossing 5.2 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts and allowing 6 hits and 2 walks.
200 K’S: In 2022, was the first Minor League pitcher to reach the 200-strikeout milestone since 2011, while his 218 strikeouts were the most since Brandon Claussen/NYY in 2001 (220).
