The 2023 NLCS could wrap up on Monday. The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the Philadelphia Phillies with a start time near 3:00 PM ET. The Phillies are at home for the game and they are leading 3-2 in the series. They will be looking to end things on Monday so that they might preserve their pitching for the upcoming World Series. My Diamondbacks vs Phillies prediction is that the Phillies will win this upcoming game and cover a -1.5 handicap.
Arizona vs Philadelphia Prediction: Latest MLB Headlines
It's starting to feel like the end of the line for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They limped into the playoffs, got hot for a week, and managed to book a spot in the NLCS. However, they weren't able to win in Philadelphia earlier in the NLCS. Now, unless they can win two on the road the Diamondbacks season will come to a close.
One interesting trend in this series is that Arizona is either winning small or losing big. The two games they won were squeakers. Meanwhile, the three games that Arizona lost were by at least two runs and typically much more. Overall, Arizona is -15 in the series on the run differential. From that point of view, the Diamondbacks look thoroughly outclassed and over their heads.
Starting Pitching: Merrill Kelly vs Aaron Nola
Arizona will rest their hopes of extending the series on Merill Kelly. He has appeared in two games so far in these playoffs. He earned a win against the LA Dodgers on October 7th, going 6.1 innings and allowing no runs. However, he did not pitch well earlier in the NLCS. In 5.2 innings, he gave up three home runs and four earned runs overall. He took the loss in the Game 2 10-0 rout.
The Phillies have to love their starter a lot more for this game. Aaron Nola has pitched 18.2 innings in the playoffs and he allowed just two earned runs. He blanked the D'backs on October 17th. Furthermore, all of his starts in the playoffs have been at home. Given how effective he has been, the fact that he is pitching at home for Game 6 should make the Phillies very large favorites in this upcoming game.
Diamondbacks vs Phillies Prediction: Betting Tips
But the betting odds make Philadelphia just -185 (bet365). They could be placed at -325, meaning the betting odds are long enough to take. Moneyliners should be going with that while handicappers have to be happy with -1.5 at odds of +115 (bet365). This definitely looks like the end of the line for the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that just got hot at the right time but doesn't have what it takes to win the whole playoff war.
Additional reading: NFL LIVE POWER RANKINGS
