After taking the opener of this best-of-seven National League championship series, the defending league champion Phillies shoot for the 2-0 lead Tuesday night.
Aaron Nola, the longest-serving Phillie on the team, hits the hill for Philly here while Merritt Kelly will try to get Arizona on the board.
Philadelphia began this NLCS as a -140 favorite to win it, with the D’Backs getting +120. Heading into Game 2, the Phillies are now chalked at -400, with Arizona catching +300.
NLCS Betting Odds
Tuesday’s playoff baseball betting market opened Philadelphia at around -155 for Game 2, with an over/under of eight runs. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
Diamondbacks-Phillies Game 2 Betting Preview
Philadelphia grabbed the opener of this NLCS Monday night 5-3. The Phillies took the lead for good on a Schwarber lead-off homer in the bottom of the first inning, later led 5-0, let Arizona get within 5-3 late but held on from there.
Philadelphia won Game 1 as a -155 favorite on the dime line and covered against the run line at +130. Also, Game 1 just sneaked over a total of 7.5.
With Monday’s victory, the Phillies are now 6-1 this postseason.
With Monday’s loss, the Diamondbacks are 5-1 this postseason.
Philadelphia beat the D’Backs by six games in the regular-season standings and took the season series from Arizona four games to three.
NLCS Game 2 Pitching Match-Up
Nola is making his third start of this postseason. First, in the wild-card round against Miami, he threw seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball in a 7-1 Philadelphia victory. Then in the NLDS against that great Atlanta lineup, he allowed just two runs and six hits through 5 1/3, with one walk and nine whiffs, in a 10-2 Phillies win.
Philadelphia is 21-13 with Nola this season and 10-1 his last 11 times out.
In his one start this season against Arizona, Nola allowed four runs and six hits through 6 2/3 innings of a 5-4 Philly victory.
Kelly is making his second start of this postseason. Ten days ago in the NLDS against that great Los Angeles lineup, he tossed 6 1/3 innings of three-hit, shutout ball in an 11-2 Diamondbacks triumph. And he finished the regular season in good form, allowing only four runs and 12 hits over his last three outings, covering 18 2/3 innings.
Arizona is 17-14 with Kelly this season but 20-11 would probably be closer to the truth, based on his game-by-performances.
In his only start this season against Philadelphia, Kelly allowed three runs and three hits through six innings of a 4-3 D’Backs defeat.
Splits With the Sticks
Arizona batted .250 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .323 team OBP and a .414 team slugging percentage.
Philadelphia slashed .256/.327/.432 against right-handed pitching.
The Bullpens
The Phillies’ pen posted a 3.58 ERA this season, along with a 1.27 WHIP and a 2.72 K/BB ratio.
The Diamondbacks’ pen put up a 4.22 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and a 2.47 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
Arizona played 41-40 on the road this season and 56-57 against right-handed starters.
Philadelphia played 49-32 at home and 60-51 against right-handed starters.
Totals Report
The Under is 84-69 in Diamondbacks games this season.
The Unders played 76-73 in Phillies games.
The Unders played 37-35 at Citizens Bank Park this season.
