PHOENIX — It seems like Game 4 just ended, but we are already just a few hours away from Game 5 of the National League Championship Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix.
The winner of this game moves just one win away from claiming the NL pennant and advancing to the World Series. For the Phillies, this would be their second straight trip to the World Series, as they won the 2022 NLCS before losing to the Astros in the World Series. For the Diamondbacks, it would be the first trip since 2001, when they beat the Yankees in seven games.
And ahead of Game 5, D-backs Manager Torey Lovullo made several changes to his lineup.
In the hopes of breaking star rookie Corbin Carroll out of his slump, Lovullo has moved Carroll to the leadoff spot and second baseman Ketel Marte, who has been batting leadoff back to second.
Lovullo also inserted Pavin Smith into the lineup as the designated hitter and will start Alek Thomas, who hit the game-tying home run in Game 4, in center field.
Evan Longoria will also start at third base, replacing Emmanuel Rivera.
D-backs ace Zac Gallen will get the start against Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler.
Lovullo said his team has a gameplan for Wheeler, who struck out eight D-backs and only gave up three hits in Game 1.
"We've seen him, there's some familiarity, and it was less than a week ago, so I think our guys are going to be ready to go back up there and make adjustments a little bit quicker," Lovullo said before Game 5. "But we have the utmost respect for his ability to execute."
Lovullo added that he is enjoying this ride through the playoffs with his team because everybody is all in and that he had a late night after beating Philadelphia in Game 4.
"I'm wound up pretty tight after the game," Lovullo said. "I was with my wife and her best friend, her husband, and their children playing Pop-a-shot in the man cave and had a couple of drinks that weren't water or Gatorade and kind of just enjoyed the moment and listened to their conversations because they're fans too. It was a good feeling. I wanted to feel as good as I possibly could because we all enjoyed that."
Game 5 of the NLCS begins at 5:07 p.m. on Saturday. Chase Field will be sold out and the roof will be closed. The most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, will throw out the first pitch.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
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