GAME FOUR: Philadelphia is looking to take a 3-1 series lead with a victory tonight while Arizona is aiming to even up this series at two games apiece. Teams to take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Postseason series have gone on to win the series 78 of 92 times (84.8%),
including 37 of 45 times in the LCS (82.2%) Teams that win Game 4 to tie up a seven-game Postseason series at 2-2 have gone on to win the series 31-of-65 times (47.6%), including eight-of-19 times in the LCS (42.1%)….research courtesy of Elias. Tonight marks Arizona’s third home game this Postseason…they won the Wild Card series by taking both games in Milwaukee, played two of their three games in the NLDS in Los Angeles and played the first two games of this NLCS in Philadelphia In their two home games this Postseason, Arizona is 2-0.
LOOKING TO GO BIG: Philadelphia finds itself in a familiar situation heading into Game 4…the Phillies were up 2-1 heading into Game 4 in last year’s NLCS with San Diego albeit Games 4 and 5 last year were in Philadelphia. Over the last two Postseasons (26 games total), the Phillies have had only one true losing streak when they dropped Games 4-6 of the World Series last year to Houston. Other than that, Philly has been able to bounce back with a victory following a loss during the last two Postseasons (if there was a game to be played)…Philadelphia is 18-8 in its 26 Postseason games dating to last year. The Phillies is 6-3 all-time in nine NLCS Game 4s.
TWO TO TIE: Arizona can level this series at two apiece with a victory tonight. Yesterday’s win marked the D-Backs first victory in an NLCS since 2001 when they won Game 5 of the NLCS at Atlanta to advance to the World Series. Although Arizona only scored two runs yesterday its offense created more opportunities, totaling nine hits while drawing four walks…in the first two games of this series they totaled eight hits and three walks. Arizona is 1-1 in their previous two NLCS Game 4s. The D-Backs are going with a bullpen game tonight in Game 4…they were 3-3 this year during the regular season when starting a true reliever. Tonight’s starter (opener) for Arizona is Joe Mantiply, he opened three of those six games for Arizona this year (AZ was 2-1 in those games).
KEEP THE KETEL ON: Ketel Marte had three more hits yesterday (including the game-winner) to run his Postseason hitting streak to 12 games to begin his career. Marte is one of six players in Postseason history to hit safely in each of their 12 career Postseason games. Only two other players have started their Postseason careers by hitting safely in each of their first 13 (or more) career Postseason games.
This Postseason, Marte is hitting .371 (13-for-35) with four doubles, two homers, five RBI and four runs scored while sporting a 1.046 OPS.
In his 12 career Postseason games, Marte is slashing .385/.396/.712 (1.108 OPS) with nine extra-base hits, seven RBI and eight runs scored.
CHASING DUBS: While the Phillies have enjoyed much success at Citizens Bank Park during the Postseason over the year, Chase Field has also proved to be a winning formula for the D-Backs during Postseason play. All-Time Postseason Home Win % By Ballpark (min. 20g) Team Home Stadium Record (Win. %)
Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park 28-11 (.718)
New York Mets Shea Stadium 26-13 (.667)
St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium III 35-18 (.660)
Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field 15-8 (.652)
As mentioned previously, Arizona has won both of its games at home during this Postseason. In LCS play, the Diamondbacks are 2-3 at Chase Field. At home this year during the regular season, the D-Backs were 43-38 (.531), tied for ninth best home win % in the National League with the Mets. But dating to August 12, Arizona is 17-7 in its last 24 home games including the two this Postseason…they have a 115-88 (+27 run differential) in that span at home.
ARE YOU SURE THERE WEREN’T ANY HOMERS?: Neither team homered in yesterday’s game. Philadelphia’s 19 homers this Postseason lead all teams while Arizona’s 14 homers are third behind Houston’s 16. Yesterday’s homerless game was Philadelphia’s first since opening the Postseason in Game 1 of the NLWC round with no homers in their 4-1 win over Miami… they have now been held homerless in two of their nine Postseason games this year. Of the Phillies 19 homers this Postseason, 16 have been solo shots including each of their last 13 home runs…the last time they hit a homer with runners on was Bryce Harper in Game 3 of the NLDS vs. Atlanta (a three-run shot off Bryce Elder in the 3rd). The Fightins have out-homered their opponents 19-4 (+15)…that would be the highest homer differential in a single Postseason in MLB history. Arizona’s 14 homers this Postseason are the most they’ve hit in a single Postseason in team history, already three more than they hit to their run to a World Series Championship in 2001 (11).
PITCH PERFECT?: Through their first nine Postseason contests Phillies pitchers have been nearly flawless, posting a 1.47 ERA (13er, 79.1ip) that leads all Postseason teams. The Phillies have allowed just 15 runs total through their first nine games of this Postseason so far. Fightins starters have a 1.39 ERA (8er, 51.2ip) with a whopping 58 strikeouts to just five walks.
TREA TABLES UP?: Trea Turner recorded a hit in yesterday’s loss and has now logged a hit in each of his nine games this Postseason. Turner’s nine-game hitting streak to open the Postseason is now the second-longest by a Phillie behind Lenny Dykstra’s 10 consecutive games with a hit to open the 1993 Postseason. Turner is slashing .471/.526/.882 (1.409 OPS) this Postseason with five doubles, three homers, four RBI, eight runs scored, four walks and four stolen bases. Over his last 13 Postseason games dating to the start of last Postseason, Turner is slashing .423/.464/.846 (1.310) with 12 extra-base hits, six RBI, 12 runs scored and five steals. In Turner’s first 39 career Postseason games he slashed .228/.274/.287 (.561 OPS) with eight extra-base hits, six RBI, 19 runs scored and five steals.
DID WE PACK THE RUNNING SHOES?: The D-Backs recorded their first stolen base of this series yesterday (Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the 9th inning)…it was also Arizona’s first steal attempt this series. The D-Backs had seven steals (on 10 attempts) in the NLWC and NLDS rounds combined. Arizona stole 166 bases during the regular season, second-most in the Majors behind the Reds 190 steals…Arizona’s 86.5% stolen base success rate during the regular season was also second-best in MLB behind the Mets 88.7% success rate (118 steals, 15 caught stealings).
TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT: With his two homers on Tuesday, Kyle Schwarber tied Reggie Jackson for career home runs by a left-handed hitter in Postseason history…teammate Bryce Harper isn’t too far behind on that list either. Career Postseason Homers by a Left-Handed Hitter — All-Time
Player Homers
Kyle Schwarber 18
Reggie Jackson 18
David Ortiz 17
Jim Thome 17
Bryce Harper 15
Player Homers
Corey Seager 15
Babe Ruth 15
David Justice 14
Jim Edmonds 13
Three tied 12
That list features four total players still playing in this Postseason with Corey Seager (TEX) and Yordan Álvarez (HOU) squaring off in the ALCS…Álvarez is one of the three players tied for 10-most with 12
NLCS GAME 4 STARTING PITCHERS
CRISTOPHER SÁNCHEZ LHP
2023 REGULAR SEASON: 3-5, 3.44 ERA
2023 POSTSEASON: —
GET YOUR FEET WET, KID: Sánchez gets the nod today in what will be his first career Postseason appearance. The 26-year-old did not pitch in the NLWC or NLDS and has not pitched in a game since September 30 at the Mets, working 1.0 inning of relief. He last started a game on September 24 vs. the Mets at CBP, spinning 7.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts.
2023 SEASON: Had his most productive season in the Major Leagues this year, making 19 appearances (18 starts) for the Phillies…he went 3-5 with a 3.44 ERA while turning in seven quality starts. Sánchez set career bests in games, starts, wins, ERA, innings (99.1) and strikeouts (96) this year. The lefty opened the season on the 15-day IL with a strained left triceps and missed nearly a month before being activated and making his season debut on April 22…he was then optioned to Triple-A postgame. He was recalled from Triple-A on June 17 and stayed on the Phils Major League roster for the remainder of the season.
LOVE THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST?: Like yesterday’s Phillies starter, Sánchez has also thrived on the road this season. He logged a 2.08 road ERA (6er, 26.0ip) in his six road games (five starts) while striking out 18 and walking four…Philly was 3-2 in the five games he started on the road.
CHANGE OF PACE: Recorded 58 of his 96 strikeouts this season with his changeup (60.4%). Opposing hitters batted .148 (20-for-135) with seven extra-base hits (two doubles, five homers) in at-bats that ended with the pitch. In the month of September, hitters were 4-for-42 (.095) with one extra-base hit (a HR) in at-bats that ended with his changeup…he recorded 24 strikeouts in AB’s that ended on the pitch in September.
AGAINST THE D-BACKS: Does not have a whole lot of experience facing the D-Backs, facing them twice in a relief role for the Phillies last year. He was charged with five runs after allowing two hits, two walks and hitting a batter in 0.2 innings here at Chase Field on August 29 last year in Philadelphia’s 13-7 loss. He also pitched 1.0 scoreless inning vs. Arizona at CBP on June 11 of last year
JOE MANTIPLY LHP
2023 REGULAR SEASON: 2-2, 4.62 ERA
2023 POSTSEASON: 2-0, 9.00 ERA
FIRST UP: Mantiply will be the first one out of the gate for Arizona tonight in what they’ve described as a bullpen game. Mantiply started the Postseason with three scoreless outings (2.2 ip, 0h, bb, 2k) through the NL Wild Card and Division Series rounds. In Game 2 vs. the Phils on Tuesday he allowed three runs on three hits with two walks while only recording one out at Citizens Bank Park.
THE OPENER: A reliever by trade, Mantiply “opened” the first three games of his career this year for Arizona. In those three contests he had a 3.00 ERA (1er, 3.0ip)… Arizona was 2-1 in the games that Mantiply opened.
2023 CAMPAIGN: Made 35 appearances (three starts) in his fourth season in Arizona, logging a 4.62 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 39.0 innings. Was bothered by injuries for most of the first half of the season…spent time on the IL with left shoulder inflammation from March 30-April 18. He landed back on the IL from May 9-June 12 with a strained right hamstring. Was optioned to Triple-A on June 26 and made his next 10 appearances for the Aces before being recalled on August 1…remained on Arizona’s roster the remainder of the season.
FINISHED STRONG: After having a troublesome August with the D-Backs (6.97 ERA in 12 games, two starts), Mantiply turned it around in September…in 10 games (one start) the lefty allowed four runs (two earned) in 13.0 innings for a 1.38 ERA.
ON YOUR LEFT: Limited left-handed hitters to a .185 clip (12-for-65) this season with three extra-base hits (all doubles). In September, lefties were 2-for-19 (.105) off him… both of the hits were singles. Mantiply retired both lefty batters he faced in the NLWC and NLDS but Phillies LHB’s went 2-for-2 with a double off him in Game 2 of this LCS.
AGAINST THE PHILLIES: In six career relief outings vs. Philadelphia (regular and Postseason), Mantiply has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in 7.2 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts. A majority of that has come this year in his last two outings…in 3.1 innings vs. Philadelphia this year (including the Postseason) he’s given up seven runs on nine hits
