Diamondbacks and Dodgers NLDS Game 3 Preview

The Diamondbacks have an opportunity to clinch the National League Division Series tonight with a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. First pitch is at 6:07 P.M., and the game is being broadcast on TBS.

Lineups

Dave Roberts has made a couple of significant changes to the Dodgers lineup. J.D. Martinez has been moved up to the third spot in the order and Will Smith has been dropped to 5th. Kiké Hernandez has replaced the slumping Josh Outman in centerfield.

In his first four postseason games, Corbin Carroll has collected 7 hits, 6 runs, 5 walks, 4 RBI, 4 team wins, 3 extra-base hits and 2 homers…only 1 other player in MLB history has reached all of those numbers over any 4-game span in the postseason: Lou Gehrig (1928-32). Courtesy @OptaSTATS

Tommy Pham, who has been playing through a painful turf toe injury, is 7-18, .389 with a homer, six runs scored and one RBI.

With homers in each of their first four postseason games so far the D-backs have extended their postseason homer streak to 15 games, dating back to 2007 NLCS Game 3 at Colorado. That is the second-longest streak in MLB postseason history, behind only the New York Yankees (23 games from 2019-22)

The Diamondbacks came into play today with the most home runs of any 2023 postseason team. They have six stolen bases, but have been caught three times, also a high among post season teams so far.

Evan Longoria is in the lineup today after X-rays on his hand were negative and he suffered no bone bruise. He was hit on the hand by a pitch on Monday night.

Pitching Matchup

Lance Lynn and Brandon Pfaadt have some very similar numbers. The ERA, FIP, K/BB ratios and HR/9 are almost the same. The similarities stop there however. Lynn is a grizzled 36-year-old veteran of 12 major league seasons. He has pitched in 27 postseason games, including eight starts. Most of those games came in his early and middle 20's while with the St. Louis Cardinals. Lynns most recent post season outing was in the 2021 ALDS for the White Sox. He gave up five runs in 3.2 innings against the Astros, taking the loss. Pfaadt meanwhile is a 24-year-old rookie who made 19 regular season starts and one post season start, October 3rd in Milwaukee.

Earlier today we wrote about the changes that Pfaadt made with the help of pitching coach Brent Strom to get back to the majors after being demoted earlier in the year. Be sure to check out this link to find out more about that story.

Lynn was acquired by the Dodgers at the August 1st trade deadline. He posted a 6.47 ERA in 21 starts with the White Sox and a 4.32 ERA in 11 starts with the Dodgers. His last outing was September 29th against the Giants in which he went six innings allowing two runs on two hits, four walks and a homer. Lynn gave up a major league worst 44 homers this year. Lynn was a ground ball pitcher earlier in his career, but that has since shifted to a fly ball profile. He throws primarily 92-94 MPH four seamers, as well as a cutter and a sinker. He will mix in the occasional curveball against right hand batters and either a change up or slider against lefties.

Bullpens

The Diamondbacks bullpen has allowed just two runs in 15 innings this postseason. This comes on the heels of allowing just a 2.31 bullpen ERA for the month of September. You can read about how the D-backs revamped their bullpen here

Due to the off days both team's bullpens are rested and all hands on deck.