Diamondbacks vs. Phillies Monday NLCS Game 1 probable pitchers, odds, props: Bettors big on Philadelphia behind ace Zack Wheeler
The Diamondbacks and Phillies open the NLCS tonight.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks are right where they want to be in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series Monday night in Philadelphia: in the underdog role. The DBacks are 5-0 this postseason and were underdogs in each game – and on the road in four of the five. It's the first-ever playoff matchup between the Diamondbacks and defending NL champion Phillies, who won the regular-season series 4-3. Click here for model picks.
At BetMGM, Philadelphia opened at -145 but is now -165 after taking 52% of the bets and 82% of the money. On the total of 7.5 runs, the Under is taking 50% of the bets and 55% of the money. Arizona at +1.5 (-155) on the run line is taking only 18% of the bets and 6% of the money.
On the series line, Philadelphia is -178 and Arizona +150. In best-of-7 postseason series all-time, teams that won Game 1 have gone on to win the series 121 of 188 times (64%). Since 2014, Game 1 winners in an LCS have won the series 14 of 18 times (78%).
The Diamondbacks, in the NLCS for the first time since 2007, never even trailed in their three-game NLDS sweep of the Dodgers and have won their first five games of these playoffs by a combined score of 30-11. The franchise also has homered in 16 straight playoff games, the second-longest streak in MLB history.
Right-hander Zac Gallen, who could finish as high as second in the 2023 NL Cy Young Award voting, gets the call on the mound. He went to high school 15 minutes from Citizens Bank Park in South Jersey but grew up a Cardinals fan (thanks to Mark McGwire) instead of backing the Phillies.
Gallen is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA career vs. Philadelphia. He is 2-0 in these playoffs with a 3.18 ERA, winning in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Gallen is set at over/under 2.5 earned runs, 5.5 strikeouts and 14.5 outs recorded. He's +340 for a win tonight.
The Diamondbacks made one roster change from the NLDS to the NLCS, adding rookie right-hander Slade Cecconi and removing infielder Jace Peterson.
Philadelphia is 4-0 at home this postseason, winning those by a combined margin of 24-5. The Phillies are 14-3 in the NL playoffs the past two seasons overall, allowing three runs or fewer in 13 of the 17.
Ace Zack Wheeler is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts this postseason and 2-3 with a 2.59 ERA in eight career playoff starts. He is 6-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona (1-1 with a 3.00 ERA this year). Wheeler is set at O/U 1.5 earned runs, 6.5 strikeouts and 16.5 outs recorded. He's +145 to win.
Philadelphia made no changes from its NLDS roster to the NLCS. There was some hope first baseman Rhys Hoskins might be activated after tearing his ACL in March, but he remains on the IL. He could play if Philadelphia advances to the World Series.
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