Photo: Corbin Carroll continues to be a force with the Arizona Diamondbacks in his rookie season
The Arizona Diamondbacks have surprised a lot of people this season. First of all having a winning season. Second by making the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Then, after ending the regular season with a four-game losing streak, they travel to Milwaukee and drop the hammer on the National League Central Champs with a two game sweep.
Now a bigger challenge awaits. The D-Backs will get an opportunity to knock off the Dodgers, who finished with the second best record in the National League.
Former Yavapai College and Arizona State alum Merrill Kelly will get the start in Game 1. Zac Gallen, who won the second game in Milwaukee, will start in Game 2 with a day off between the first two games of the series for TV purposes. Future HOF Clayton Kershaw will start for Los Angeles. Kershaw finished the regular season at (13-5) with an ERA of 2.46. Kelly was (12-8) with an ERA of 3.29.
There are numerous reasons for the Diamondbacks shine this year. Corbin Carroll has been a huge part of the success this season, and is a sure bet for Rookie of the Year. Carroll finished the regular season with 25 home runs, 76 RBIs and average of .285. He came up big in Milwaukee, was on base six of nine times, with four hits, including a home run, scored three runs, and had two RBIs in the leadoff spot.
The bullpen was fantastic in Milwaukee and will need to be just as effective against the Dodgers if the D-Backs want to make it to the National League Championship Series.
After the first two games in Los Angeles, the D-Backs return to Phoenix in what will be a festive atmosphere at Chase Field.
The Dodgers won the season series against the Diamondbacks (8-5), with the Dodgers outscoring the D-Backs 72-47. Eight of those 13 games were played by April 9, which was a long time ago.
The D-Backs finished 16 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West, but Arizona can look at the another NLDS series for inspiration. Last year the Phillies finished 14 games behind the Braves and won the series in four games. Anything can happen in baseball, so let the games begin.
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES (Best of 5)
Game 1 Saturday, October 7 Los Angeles 6:20pm
Game 2 Monday, October 9 Los Angeles 6:07pm
Game 3 Wednesday, October 11 Phoenix TBA
*Game 4 Thursday, October 12 Phoenix TBA
*Game 5 Saturday, October 14 Los Angeles TBA
*- If necessary
