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By Robert Read
Life & Trends Reporter
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A 5-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) has the Philadelphia Phillies set for a franchise first—a winner-take-all Game 7.
The Phillies were established in 1883 and, somewhat remarkably, have yet to compete in a postseason Game 7 in their 141 seasons. And that's despite Philadelphia making 16 postseason appearances and playing in 132 playoff games. For comparison, the St. Louis Cardinals have been around since 1882 and hold the record for the most Game 7s (16).
Philadelphia is one of four MLB franchises to never compete in the seventh contest of a seven-game postseason series, per The Athletic, joining the Padres, Mariners, and Rockies.
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But that changes Tuesday night.
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The Phillies head into uncharted postseason territory by hosting the Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the NLCS. The National League pennant and a matchup with the Texas Rangers in the 2023 World Series is on the line.
"It's going to be all hands on deck," said Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber, who previously won Game 7 of the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs. "It's going to be fight, scratch, claw—do whatever you can to score a run.
"Find a way to get outs. Find a way to move up an extra 90 feet. Anything that you can. [Tuesday's] going to be a really exciting baseball game, because anything goes. This could be it. It's exciting.
"It's going to be good, anxious nerves coming onto the field tomorrow. This is what you live for, going into the backyard [as a kid]. Game 7. It's going to be fun."
The Phillies won the first two games of the NLCS at home, but the Diamondbacks quickly tied the series at 2-2 when the series shifted to Arizona. A 6-1 Philly win in Game 5 set up Philadelphia to clinch the NLCS on their home field on Monday. Arizona made sure that didn't happen. And now it all comes down to Tuesday night.
The last, and only, time the Diamondbacks were in a Game 7 was when Luis Gonzalez delivered a walk-off hit off of Mariano Rivera to defeat the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series.
Philadelphia may not have played in a Game 7 before, but this will mark the franchise's fourth winner-take-all postseason game. The Phillies won Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS on their way to a World Series title. Philadelphia has also lost Game 5 of the NLDS on two occasions.
Here's what else baseball fans should know ahead of Tuesday's Game 7.
How to Watch Phillies vs. D-backs Game 7
First pitch for Game 7 is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The game will air on TBS with Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jeff Francoeur (analyst), and Ron Darling (analyst) on the call. Matt Winer will also report throughout the broadcast.
This will mark the 14th time Philadelphia and Arizona have played this season. The Phillies lead the season series 7-6 entering Tuesday night.
In best-of-seven postseason series, teams that won Game 6 to force a Game 7 have come out on top in that winner-take-all contest 34 of 60 times (57 percent), according to MLB's website. And teams playing in their home ballparks are only 62-62 all-time in winner-take-all postseason games, including 30-28 in best-of-seven series.
"Only one game matters right now, and that's tomorrow," Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper said, via the MLB website.
Who is Pitching for Phillies, Diamondbacks?
The Diamondbacks are expected to turn to Brandon Pfaadt as their Game 7 starter. The right-hander has been on the mound three times this postseason, including in a series-clinching win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. Last time out, the 25-year-old threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a Game 3 win over the Phillies.
Left-hander Ranger Suárez will get the starting nod for Philadelphia. And Phillies fans should feel good about that. Suárez's 0.94 ERA is the lowest in postseason history (minimum of five starts), according to MLB, just ahead of Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax (0.95 ERA). The 28-year-old pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven, against Arizona in Game 3.
"I think tomorrow is going to be a great day," Suárez said Monday night, via the MLB website. "It's like a World Series game. It's win or go home. We're going to be ready. We're going to give 100 percent. I'm excited about it tomorrow."
2023 World Series Schedule
Tuesday's decisive NLCS contest will mark baseball's second Game 7 in as many days.
The Rangers defeated the Houston Astros 11-4 in the seventh game of the American League Championship Series on Monday night. This year marked the first time since 2004 that both League Championship Series went to a seventh game.
The Rangers clinched the AL pennant and advanced to the 2023 World Series.
The World Series is scheduled to start later this week on Friday, October 27. The series will run through November 4 if necessary. All World Series games will air on Fox.
Texas (90-72) will have home-field advantage for the Fall Classic after finishing with a better record than the Diamondbacks (84-78) and sweeping the Phillies (90-72) during the regular season. Though that might not be so bad for whichever team wins the NL pennant. The Rangers are 8-0 on the road to start this postseason.
Philadelphia, who reached the World Series last year and lost to Houston, is seeking its ninth pennant and third world championship. Arizona has only been to the World Series once before, when it defeated the Yankees in seven games in 2001.
Monday's win marked the first time in the D-backs' history winning an elimination game on the road, having previously been 0-4 in such scenarios. Now it's time to do it again.
"It's win or go home," Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll said. "I think everyone in here is just obviously incredibly excited."
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