MLB Betting: Previewing Today’s NLCS Matchup Between the Phillies and Diamondbacks

Today’s NLCS game will play a crucial role in determining who will be booking their trip to the World Series. With the Phillies easily taking the first two games, Arizona will likely need to win tonight to keep their World Series hopes alive.

To celebrate, we are breaking down today’s game. We will provide the odds and insights to help you bet confidently before the MLB crowns an NL champion.

If you are looking to bet on today’s action at an MLB betting site, we have you covered.

US Sportsbooks see the Phillies as a slight favorite to win tonight’s matchup in a high scoring game. Early bettors seem to agree, meaning they will likely have the consensus money tonight.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

The Phillies have been the hottest team in the postseason, and they have burned through this Diamondbacks team through the first two games. One reason for that has been Trea Turner who has bounced back after one of the worst regular seasons in his career. The shortstop is batting .500 with three home runs and four stolen bases through eight playoff games.

Turner has been far from the Phillies only postseason star. Nick Castellanos (.345 BA, 5 HR, 7 RBI) and Bryce Harper (.385 BA, 4 HR, 7 RBI) have both been on fire, and catcher JT Realmuto leads the team with ten RBIs. The Phillies have the second-best batting average (.284) in the postseason and lead in home runs (19) and RBIs (46), and we see that trend continuing today.

Philadelphia will have Ranger Suarez on the mound tonight. The 28-year-old has been lights out in the postseason the last two seasons. He has allowed just one run and four hits across 8 2/3 innings this year and had a 1.23 ERA across five games last season. Suarez faced the Diamondbacks in Phoenix in June, throwing seven scoreless innings.

The Diamondbacks looked unstoppable as they mowed down the Brewers and Dodgers, but they hit a brick wall in the NLCS. They have been outscored 15-3 through the first two games thanks to a 10-0 shutout in the second game. The lack of offense is the biggest concern, as that had carried them to the NLCS. Their pitching is decent, but not good enough to keep them afloat against a team like the Phillies.

Arizona has a lot of quality bats, but the best belongs to Corbin Carroll. The budding superstar was fantastic against Milwaukee and LA, but he is 1-7 in the NLCS. The 24-year-old is making his first playoff run, and the NLCS is a very big stage. The Diamondbacks are hoping that he and the rest of this lineup can turn things around now that they are back home.

Brandon Pfaadt will be getting the start for Arizona in today’s game. He has struggled to find consistency this season, but he turned a lot of heads in his last start against the Dodgers. The righty allowed two hits and no runs across 4 1/3  innings, helping lead the D-backs to an upset win. However, Pfaadt was hit hard in Milwaukee. The righty surrendered three runs on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.