The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a really tough spot in the NLCS. After getting absolutely annihilated in Game Two, Arizona now faces being in an 0-2 hole heading back to their home field against a Phillies team that looks like it is unstoppable right now.
The good news is that the Diamondbacks have played at home this season with a 43-38 record overall, but that was with the offense mostly playing up to their potential. Unfortunately, Arizona's top bats have haven't come close to their production from the regular season and it has costly them dearly.
The Diamondbacks need more from Corbin Carroll and the rest of their top bats
Giving up 10 runs in Game Two was never likely to result in a win, but getting shut out after Merrill Kelly essentially laid down a gauntlet to Philly fans was indicative of a larger problem. For Arizona to have any chance against this red-hot Phillies team, stars like Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Christian Walker were going to have to carry the offense. The results there have been, at best, decidedly mixed.
Corbin Carroll was great in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but he has just one hit in the NLCS so far. Not exactly what you want to see from your best hitter with your playoff lives on the line. Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno are right there with him with one hit and Tommy Pham hasn't recorded a hit at all. Ketel Marte has at least done his part, but it hard for that to matter when all of the hitters around him at the top of the order aren't producing.
The good news is that Arizona is past the Phillies' top two starters and seem to match up well with Philly lefty Ranger Suarez. If the DBacks' top bats can get going against him today, Arizona will be right back in the series. If not, Arizona may be heading into their offseason sooner than they would have liked.