The Diamondbacks are returning to Philadelphia to face the Phillies for the first time since their victory in the National League Championship Series last October.
Arizona came from behind, winning two consecutive games on the road after trailing 3-2, securing their place in the World Series. This weekend, the two teams will meet again at Citizens Bank Park.
Since then, the Diamondbacks have made significant changes to their roster, whereas the Phillies have chosen to keep their core intact. Philadelphia currently holds the best record in the NL at 49-25, largely due to their formidable lineup and rotation.
Despite suffering multiple injuries to their pitching staff, Arizona is 37-38 and trails San Diego by a slim margin for the third Wild Card position.
This upcoming game will mark the teams’ first meeting since that significant series. While Phillies players are likely to publicly minimize any talk of seeking revenge, it’s clear that even a sweep by the Phillies in this series wouldn’t compensate for the playoff defeat. (49ers fans should take note, as some believe that defeating the Eagles in the regular season last year made up for the prior season’s playoff loss.) However, I’m willing to bet that if you asked them honestly, they would acknowledge that this series holds greater significance in their minds.
The Phillies initially led the series 2-0 and seemed poised to reach their second consecutive World Series. However, Diamondbacks pitchers began throwing numerous pitches outside the strike zone, which the Phillies eagerly swung at. Couple that with a couple of subpar performances by Craig Kimbrel, and the Phillies lost their title as NL champions.
