Total Play For Game 6

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies, 5:07 ET

We are just a few games away from the World Series. After 162 in the regular season, the fewest amount possible in the Wild Card round, and then fairly quick divisional rounds, we finally see some battles in the Championship Series. I'm excited to see if we get another Game 7 after tonight as the Diamondbacks take on the Phillies.

After looking like it was going to be a completely one-sided series, the Diamondbacks have fought back and made it interesting. The games they lost they were pretty much blown out of. The games that they've won, they've only done it by a run in each. Look, all you need is one run, but it doesn't give me much confidence that the team can't pull away and looks so bad in the three losses. Obviously, one more loss sends them home, but they can't start playing nervous now. It seems like the team is struggling with playing in front of the Phillies crowd. But, now with a couple of wins under their belt and knowing what to expect, I would think they can be a bit more effective. The biggest thing is trying to stop the Phillies from bashing some homers. It is something no one has been able to do in the postseason so far. Merrill Kelly, tonight's starter, allowed three homers in the first game he pitched against the Phillies. Kelly is a very talented pitcher, and I think better than what he showed the other day.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) exits the game in the fourth inning during a regular season game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers on March 31, 2023, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

What the Phillies are doing is seemingly impossible. You're telling me that this team is able to face the best pitching in baseball and continuously mash the ball? It is somewhat illogical, but in this series alone, the Phillies have hit 10 homers in five games and allowed just three to the Diamondbacks. Kyle Schwarber has seven hits this series and five of them have gone over the fence. Bryce Harper only has five hits this series and two of those have been big flies. It is remarkable. That hasn't accounted for all of their runs, but it clearly has a demoralizing effect on the opponent and shifts momentum in a hurry. Tonight, they get their other stud pitcher, Aaron Nola, taking the ball. Nola has been spectacular in the postseason for the Phillies. He has allowed just two earned runs in the playoffs over 18.2 innings. All of his starts have come in Philadelphia, too. The first time that he faced the Diamondbacks, he dominated them with six strong innings, seven strikeouts, and three hits allowed.

Sorry, Diamondbacks, fans, but I do think your season is over tonight. I'm not betting on it, and do think the value is on the Diamondbacks have the value at +160. I think this is a lower scoring game as Kelly bounces back and Nola has been lights out. Let's make it easy on ourselves and play the under 8.

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