The Arizona Diamondbacks return to postseason play for the first time since 2017 with this week’s NL Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. The best-of-three series begins Tuesday with Game 1 at 4:08 p.m., shown on ESPN2.
Moreno gives the Diamondbacks the lead with a homer
When the Diamondbacks fell behind 3-0 in the second period, it looked as if they were in for a long night. Now, they lead 4-3, after four.
Gabriel Moreno put them ahead with a home run in the fourth, crushing a 425-foot high slider to left-center field. Joe Mantibelli and Miguel Castro then combined to pitch a scoreless bottom inning. So far, the bullpen has helped pick up Brandon Pfaadt, who has allowed three runs in his 2 2/3 innings.
—Theo Mackey
Diamondbacks match up with amazing hosts
Corbin Carroll and Ketil Marte hit back-to-back homers off Corbin Burns in the third inning, stunning the Brewers into a 3-3 tie.
In the first two rounds, the Diamondbacks’ offense didn’t do much of anything, continuing the trend from the end of the regular season. But Geraldo Perdomo nailed the turnaround, covering a single to right. Carroll, who looked lost in the first inning, crushed a homer to right-center off a Burns changeup to make it 3-2. Marte then followed with a line drive that just cleared the right field fence on a cutter to tie up the ball.
Burns, the Brewers’ starter, threw 64 pitches over three innings, including 28 in the third.
—Theo Mackey
Tyrone Taylor’s homer extends the Brewers’ lead
The Brewers lead the Diamondbacks, 3-0, after two innings, thanks to a giant shot by Tyrone Taylor off Brandon Pvadt in the second.
Since returning to the majors in late July, Pvadt has been a different player than he was in the first inning. But he continued to be exposed to the long ball, with 13 players involved in 13 games over that stretch.
Taylor, the Brewers’ No. 9 hole hitter, has only hit 10 homers this year but took advantage of an 0-2 fastball that Pvadt couldn’t lift above the strike zone.
—Theo Mackey
The Diamondbacks trail the Brewers in the first inning
After three hits in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday, the Diamondbacks were already trailing the Brewers. They lost 1-0 after one goal.
Brandon Pvadt walked Christian Yelich to lead off the bullpen, then gave up a pair of ill-fated singles. William Contreras lofted a soft fly ball to right field on a Pfaadt sweeper to put runners on the corners with no out. Carlos Santana then singled Yelich home through the right side which would have been a double play had Ketel Marte not shifted toward first base.
But Pfaadt recovered well. He struck out the next three homers and finished the inning with seven swinging strikeouts.
—Theo Mackey
Jake McCarthy was replaced by Jace Peterson on the Diamondbacks roster
MILWAUKEE – Outfielder Jake McCarthy has been removed from the Diamondbacks’ roster for the Wild Card Series due to a right obique strain. He has been replaced on the roster by Jace Peterson.
McCarthy apparently suffered the injury during batting practice.
Peterson was a surprise omission earlier in the day when he was left off the roster in favor of outfielder/first baseman Pavin Smith.
—Nick Pecoro
Tommy Pham is fighting on the field as the season begins
MILWAUKEE — Diamondbacks cornerback Tommy Pham said he will likely receive a cortisone shot Tuesday afternoon to address a bout with a calloused toe on his right foot.
However, Pham is in the lineup for Game 1, though limited to designated hitter duties as he has been for most of the past two weeks.
Manager Torey Lovullo first mentioned Pham’s finger to reporters in New York, where Pham exited a game against the Yankees on September 22 after seven innings. This was the last day Pham started anywhere other than DH.
“This is the first time I’ve ever had turf toe,” Pham said. “Honestly, I didn’t even know what was going on. I thought it was my cleats, so I switched cleats. Then it got progressively worse and worse, so here I am.”
Lovullo said the toe is the reason Pham has not been running hard on the first base line in recent weeks. Lovullo said the club encouraged Pham to take things easy.
Lovullo said Pham remaining in the lineup is “a statement about who he is and what he wants to do every time he steps on the field.” “There’s a certain toughness to him, and I think he brings that to every one of his teammates as well.”
—Nick Pecoro
Gabriel Moreno ranks fifth in the Diamondbacks’ lineup for Game 1
MILWAUKEE — Diamondbacks manager Torrey Lovullo moved catcher Gabriel Moreno up in his batting order for Game 1 against the Brewers on Tuesday night.
Moreno, who finished seventh or eighth for most of the regular season, is as high as fifth. He hasn’t finished as high as third, fourth or fifth at any point this season.
The rest of the Diamondbacks lineup looks more or less as expected.
1. Corbin Carroll, RF
2. Kettle Marty, 2B
3. Tommy Pham, D
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Gabriel Moreno, K
6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr
7. Alec Thomas, CF
8. Evan Longoria, 3B
9. Geraldo Perdomo, SS
—Nick Pecoro
Craig Counsell talks about what he loves most about baseball
MILWAUKEE — Brewers manager Craig Counsell has managed and played in the postseason before — doing the latter for both the Brewers and Diamondbacks — and was asked Monday what he likes most about October baseball.
“It’s really the emotions of the game and the crowd that you get right out of the gate,” Counsell said. “My favorite time is always about 20 minutes before the game. I love being in the dugout because that anticipation is kind of a release for the players. It’s unparalleled to that part of the day.”
Chancellor was a member of the Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series championship club. That year, he was named MVP of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, going 8-for-21 (.381) with three doubles and a stolen base.
“As the home team, when things go our way, there’s a huge wave of emotion that you can’t get anywhere else,” Counsell said. “That’s just being a part of it and feeling like there’s nothing better. Conversely, on the side of the road, it’s like it’s us against the world. That’s how you deal with it. It hits both ways.”
—Nick Pecoro
More databases:The Diamondbacks are showing confidence in Brandon Pfaadt before starting their Game 1 NL Wild Card series versus the Brewers
The Diamondbacks are locked into the roster ahead of the wild-card series
MILWAUKEE — The Diamondbacks will go with 14 position players and 12 pitchers on their 26-man roster for the Wild Card Series against the Brewers that begins Tuesday night.
The most surprising development is the inclusion of outfielder/first baseman Pavin Smith over infielder Jace Peterson.
Peterson hasn’t fared well for the Diamondbacks since he was acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline, hitting just .183/.276/.258 in 106 plate appearances, but he’s been getting almost all the starts against right-handed pitching. During the last few weeks of the season.
Meanwhile, Smith has not swung well at the big league level this year, posting a .188/.317/.325 slash line in 228 plate appearances. He spent most of the last three months in Triple-A Reno, finishing his season with a 19-for-41 (.463) line that included three doubles and four homers in 10 games.
On the pitching side, the club opted to use right-hander Bryce Jarvis over left-hander Kyle Nelson. Jarvis has hit home runs in his limited time in the majors and can pitch combination innings if needed. Meanwhile, Nelson struggled down the stretch.
The list is as follows:
Catchers (2): Gabriel Moreno, Jose Herrera.
Players (6): Christian Walker, Ketel Marti, Geraldo Perdomo, Emmanuel Rivera, Ivan Longoria, Jordan Laular.
Defensive Players (6): Corbin Carroll, Alec Thomas, Tommy Pham, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Jake McCarthy, Pavin Smith.
Pitchers: Brandon Pvadt, Zach Gallen, Meryl Kelly, Luis Frias, Miguel Castro, Kevin Ginkel, Joe Mantiply, Ryan Nelson, Andrew Salfrank, Paul Seewald, Ryan Thompson, Bryce Jarvis.
—Nick Pecoro
Tuesday’s Diamondbacks-Brewers Game 1
Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pvadt (3-9, 5.72) vs. Brewers RHP Corbin Burns (10-8, 3.39).
Pfaadt’s numbers at the end of the year aren’t impressive, but he was better after being sent twice to Triple-A Reno. He had a 9.82 ERA in his first six starts and a 4.22 ERA in his last 13 appearances (12 starts). … He hasn’t faced the Brewers this year. …Rookie, never played in a playoff game before. He started in the Pacific Coast Championship game last year. … Burns has faced the Diamondbacks twice this year, pitching eight scoreless innings against them on April 11 but giving up seven runs in five innings on June 19. … The 2021 NL Cy Young winner appears to have found his stride late in the season, posting a 2.72 ERA in his last 16 starts and a 2.27 ERA in his last six. … CF Alek Thomas is 3-for-8 with a homer off Burns in his career. … Burns has whiffed at a whopping 49 percent clip on his curveball this season. Opponents haven’t fared much better in his other primes either, hitting .209 on his cutter, .204 on his changeup and .162 against his slider.
Diamondbacks-Brewers NL Wild Card Series schedule
Wednesday, second match: At Milwaukee, 4:08 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zach Gallen (17-9, 3.47) vs. Brewers TBA.
Thursday, third game (if necessary): At Milwaukee, 4:08 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.29) vs. Brewers TBA (time may change if another wild-card series ends).
Who wins the NL Wild Card Series?Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers Predictions, Odds
MLB Wild Card Series (Best of Three)
American League: Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins (ESBN)
Tuesday: Toronto (Guzman 12-9) at Minnesota (Lopez 11-8), 1:38 p.m.; Wednesday: Toronto (TBD) at Minnesota (Gray 8-8), 1:38 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 5: Toronto at Minnesota, pitchers TBD, 1:38 p.m.*
American League: Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays (ABC)
Tuesday: Texans (Montgomery 10-11) at Tampa Bay (Glasnow 10-7), 12:08 p.m.; Wednesday: Texas (TBD) at Tampa Bay (Evelyn 16-8), 1:08 p.m.; Thursday: Texans at Tampa Bay, pitchers TBD, 1:08 p.m.*
National League: Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies (ESPN)
Tuesday: Miami (Luzardo 10-9) at Philadelphia (Wheeler 13-6), 5:08 p.m.; Wednesday, Miami (Garrett 9-7) at Philadelphia (NOLA 12-9), 5:08 p.m.; Thursday: Miami at Philadelphia, pitchers TBD, 5:08 p.m.*
*-Times for all 3 games are subject to change depending on the results of other series
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