Game 1 of the 2023 NLCS, which will feature the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Philadelphia Phillies, will be played on Monday, October 16th, 2023 (8:00 PM ET start). However, in this article I'm looking at the whole series for futures bettors. My Diamondbacks vs Phillies prediction is that the latter will win the series. Also, I think it may be a short series as Arizona is unlikely to keep their hot streak active.
2023 World Series Odds: Prior to Start of NLCS/ALCS (bet365)
To Win Outright: MLB World Series
- PHI Phillies 2/1
- HOU Astros 11/5
- TEX Rangers 11/4
- ARI Diamondbacks 9/2
Arizona vs Philadelphia Prediction: Recent MLB Headlines
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a surprise entrant into the 2023 NLCS. Not only did they eliminate the Los Angeles Dodgers in the divisional round but Arizona did so in a sweep. After limping into the 2023 MLB playoffs, the Diamondbacks have gone 5-0 -- including 4-0 on the road. Furthermore, Arizona has eliminated two teams that won their divisions. Major League Baseball truly is about getting hot at the right moment as all of the 100-game winners from the regular season are already ready out.
Philadelphia is into the NLCS following a series win over the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies are 5-1 in the MLB playoffs, having previously eliminated the Miami Marlins.
These teams, Arizona and Philadelphia, did not meet in the second half of the season. All of their games were played before the All-Star break. But they met seven times with Philadelphia winning the season series 4-3. On run differential, the Phillies went +10. However, that included a one-game anomaly where Philadelphia beat Arizona 15-3.
Diamondbacks vs Phillies Prediction: Betting Tips
The Diamondbacks should be regarded as a temporarily hot team. They were not the consistent team that the Phillies were. From that point of view, the D'backs are much more likely to regress to mediocrity than Philadelphia.
For betting odds, they are not bad on the Phillies at all. They are priced at -165 to win the entire series (bet365). With prospects for a short series on the table, bettors should go with Philadelphia to win and advance to the 2023 World Series.
Featured: NFL WEEK 6 Picks and Predictions
