Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to Start Games 1 & 2 in NLCS
Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo addressed the media today prior to a team workout and three inning practice game at Chase Field in preparation for the National League Championship Series. Game one is in Philadelphia against the Phillies on Monday night, game time 5:07 P.M. Arizona time.
Rotation:
Lovullo announced that Zac Gallen will start game one and Merrill Kelly will start game two. The rotation will be TBA the rest of the way. Lovullo indicated that Brandon Pfaadt will likely get a start, but would not commit to which game.
Lovullo never considered splitting up to the two co-aces. "We're going there with our best team and our best effort from the first pitch of the game until the last pitch of game one, and then we'll reload in game two"
Lovullo said they sat down with the coaching staff and front office for the last 90 minutes to draw up contingencies based on game one going well and game one going poorly, and figuring out plans based on what happens from there. The plans, and math become more complicated when it comes to games three and four when neither Gallen or Kelly will be available.
The team will need to put together 54 outs over those two days and the tendency with Pfaadt of late, even when he's going well, has been to limit him to 12-14 outs. So that leaves 40 outs to get for the bullpen over games three and four. (Assuming game four is a bullpen game). Lovullo acknowledged this challenge, which we wrote about earlier this morning.
"That's a really good way to look at it. We've been talking about the same thing. With Brandon, assuming he does go game three, whenever Brandon pitches....we will continue working through the same dynamics that we have been. It's working. He's been throwing the ball really well"
That answer addressed the Pfaadt game. Lovullo also hinted that he would look to stretch Pfaadt a bit longer than he has been if possible, but also made clear that he will also react to the circumstances depending on how they get there. He gave no hint about how they would handle game four however, other to say that they have ruled out a short rest outing for Gallen. So that game is shaping up as a bullpen game but much will depend on how the series has gone to that point.
Roster
During the previous rounds the D-backs went with 14 position players and 12 pitchers. They are considering going with a 13-13 for the NLCS but have not yet firmed up those plans.
Three Inning Practice Game Today
The purpose of today's three inning game is to keep the players sharp and ready. It's a proactive move to get ahead of any potential lags due to layoff time. Speaking with coaches Dave Mckay and Jeff Bannister and other coaches from his past Lovullo concluded it was really important to get pitchers on the mound and have the hitters "play three really good hard aggressive innings......simulate it as best you can, full energy, full throttle." The team pumped in crowd noise during batting practice to help the players get their energy level up.
Handling the Citizens Bank Park Playoff Atmosphere
The D-backs have won four straight playoff games on the road, and their young players have handled it just fine. Lovullo and the players are all aware of what awaits them in Philadelphia but don't feel they'll be overwhelmed by it.
"We know that it's a great home field advantage for the Phillies. Their fans are intense. We've been there before and have felt that. If they're a 10, the Dodger fans aren't very far behind. I don't want to insult anybody here ...but we handled that well enough............If we were going to get glossy eyed it would have happened in Milwaukee, which is also very loud. I certainly thought it could happen in LA, but we didn't blink. "
Health Updates
Gabriel Moreno: "We are full steam ahead with him being our starting catcher for game one."
Moreno had been removed from game three of the NLDS against Los Angeles after taking a foul tip on the back of his right throwing hand. Lovullo was expecting him to go into the clubhouse after getting taken out and come out with some sort of splint on. But Moreno came out and was ready to warm up one of the pitchers in the 8th and 9th inning. From that point forward Lovullo had no doubt that Moreno would be ready to go.
Tommy Henry is going to pitch in today's simulated game and if all goes well `is a candidate to make the post season roster. If he does it will be as a reliever, not a starter.
Jake McCarthy suffered a grade 2 strain of his right oblique in batting practice prior the series with Milwaukee. Lovullo said that McCarthy's season is over as he will be out months, not weeks.
