The Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks do battle in game two of the NLCS from Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night in MLB action. Let’s break this game down and give out a free pick. 

Arizona Falls Short In Opener

The Arizona Diamondbacks come into this game looking to rebound after a 5-3 loss in Monday’s series opener. Gerardo Perdomo had a two-run home run while Alek Thomas added a sac fly RBI to make up the scoring for the D-Backs in the losing effort. Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Evan Longoria all had base hits to make up the offense for Arizona as the Diamondbacks had just four hits as a team in the losing effort. Zac Gallen took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts over five innings of work. Merrill Kelly will start for Arizona here and is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts this postseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks Team Facts

• The Diamondbacks have won nine of their last 10 games as underdogs against National League opponents.
• The Diamondbacks have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 games against National League opponents.
• The Diamondbacks have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five games against NL East opponents.
• The Diamondbacks have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last five road games against NL East opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last five road games.

Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts

• Geraldo Perdomo has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
• Merrill Kelly has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last seven appearances.
• Jake McCarthy has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances against NL East opponents.
• Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one Single in each of the Diamondbacks’ last nine road games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Geraldo Perdomo has hit a home run in each of the Diamondbacks’ last two games as underdogs.
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has recorded a Double in each of his last three road appearances against the Phillies after playing the previous day.
• Jake McCarthy has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 11 appearances against NL East opponents.
• Jake McCarthy has scored a run in each of his last 10 appearances against the Phillies.
• Corbin Carroll ranks 3rd in the league in Steals (54) this season.

Phillies Keep It Rolling

The Philadelphia Phillies come into this one fresh off of another series-opening win after Monday’s victory. Bryce Harper went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs while Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber each had solo homers as well. J.T. Realmuto added an RBI of his own to cap off the scoring for the Phillies in the winning effort while Trea Turner went 2 for 4 with a double. Josh Rojas chipped in a double as well and Brandon Marsh added a base knock to round out the offense for the Phillies in the win. Zack Wheeler got the win for the Phillies after six innings of two-run ball, allowing three hits with 8 strikeouts. Craig Kimbrel closed out the 9th for his 3rd save of the postseason. Aaron Nola will start here and is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 12 strikeouts this postseason.

Philadelphia Phillies Team Facts

• The Phillies have won 11 of their last 12 games at Citizens Bank Park.
• The Phillies have covered the run line each of their last eight games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Phillies have led after 3 innings in each of their last six night games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
• The Phillies have led after 5 innings in each of their last eight games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Phillies have led after 7 innings in each of their last eight games against opponents that held a winning record.

Philadelphia Phillies Player Prop Facts

• Bryce Harper has hit a home run in each of the Phillies’ last four home games against NL West opponents.
• Bryce Harper has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Phillies’ last 10 games as favorites against NL West opponents.
• Kyle Schwarber has scored at least one run in each of the Phillies’ last 10 games as favorites against NL West opponents.
• Kyle Schwarber has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Phillies’ last nine games as favorites against NL West opponents.
• Aaron Nola has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last 10 Tuesday appearances at Citizens Bank Park.
• Bryce Harper has recorded at least one hit in each of the Phillies’ last 15 games as favorites against NL West opponents.
• Trea Turner has recorded at least one Double in five of the Phillies’ last six home games against NL opponents.
• Aaron Nola has recorded a win in four of his last five home appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Trea Turner has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven home appearances.
• Kyle Schwarber ranks 2nd in the league in Home Runs (47) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Philadelphia Phillies are one of only 3 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both steals and batting average this season.
• The Philadelphia Phillies are one of only 3 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both steals and home runs this season.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks rank 1st in the league for triples this season (44).
• The Arizona Diamondbacks rank 2nd in the league for steals this season (166).

Chris’ Pick

I’m going with Arizona here. The D-Backs continue to bring the value and I just have a feeling that Nola is due to give up a clunker after pitching so well in the postseason. I think I’m just at the point where I think this is more of a coin flip than where the line currently sits, so give me the D-Backs and the plus money here.