The stage is set, and either the Arizona Diamondbacks or the Philadelphia Phillies will represent the National League in the World Series. The Diamondbacks are looking to return for the first time since 2001, when they won their only World Series, while the Phillies are trying to get back for the second consecutive season and avenge last season’s loss to the Houston Astros.
Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (90-72)
The Diamondbacks and Phillies faced off seven times this season, with the Phillies winning four games and outscoring the Diamondbacks 44-34.
How’d they get here?
Arizona Diamondbacks:
Arizona got into the postseason as the sixth seed as they dropped due to being swept by the Astros to end the season. In the Wild Card round, they took on the three-seeded Milwaukee Brewers and swept them two games to none, outscoring them 11-5. In the NLCS, they drew the Los Angeles Dodgers and made quick work of them, sweeping the best of five series and outscoring them 19-6.
Philadelphia Phillies:
Philadelphia ran away with the fourth seed, the first Wild Card spot. In the Wild Card Series, they got the Miami Marlins, the fifth seed, and they swept Miami, outscoring the Marlins 11-2. In the NLDS, they got the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves and took three of four from Atlanta for the second year in a row; they outscored the Braves 21-8.
Players To Watch:
Arizona Diamondbacks: Outfielder – Corbin Carroll
Carroll is the favorite to take home the National League Rookie of the Year award, and that’s due to posting a slash line like .285/.362/.506 with a .868 OPS; he had 30 doubles, ten triples, 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 116 runs scored, 54 stolen bases, and 57 walks. In the postseason, his fantastic season has continued in five games; he is slashing .412/.565/.824 with a 1.389 OPS; he has one double, two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, and six walks. Carroll needs to keep that going if the Diamondbacks want to return to the World Series for the first time since they won it in 2001.
Philadelphia Phillies: First Baseman – Bryce Harper
There are a multitude of players of the Phillies you could choose from, but Harper lives for this moment; in last season’s run, he went 22-63 with six home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, one stolen base, and six walks. In this season’s run, he has gone 7-19 with three home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, one stolen base, and seven walks; he started slow in the Wild Card Series but has gotten hot at the right time as he went 5-13 in the NLDS.
Schedule:
Game 1: Monday – October 16 – 8:07 PM EST – TBS
Game 2: Tuesday – October 17 – 8:07 PM EST – TBS
Game 3: Thursday – October 19 – 5:07 PM EST – TBS
Game 4: Friday – October 20 – 8:07 PM EST – TBS
Game 5: Saturday – October 21 – 8:07 PM EST – TBS (If Necessary)
Game 6: Monday – October 23 – 5:07 PM EST – TBS (If Necessary)
Game 6: Tuesday – October 24 – 8:07 PM EST – TBS (If Necessary)
