NEW ORLEANS, Texas — Before Friday’s Game 1 against the Texas Rangers, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced their World Series team. It was different from the one they used to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS.
And not just in the names on the list. It was also in how the Arizona players were split up. Lovullo will only have 12 pitchers to choose from against the Rangers. That’s one less than he had in the seven-game marathon against the Phillies that put the Arizona Diamondbacks in their first World Series since 2001.
When the series goes to the Rangers, whose team has been strong in the playoffs, might Lovullo wish he had one more arm to lean on?
What Torey Lovullo did to change the Arizona Diamondbacks’ World Series team
During the warmup workout on Friday, Lovullo admitted that the change could hurt his team if Arizona doesn’t win Games 3 and 4 quickly. With Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly set to make their two starts for Arizona, Brandon Pfaadt’s length could make or break the team’s plan for its pitching staff.
“Games 3 and 4 could be very important to us. “Brandon might have to spend a little more time on the game,” Lovullo said. “The anticipation is that we’ve got to be a little bit more crafty and a little bit more careful knowing that we don’t have 50 or 60 pitches sitting on that 14th pitcher in the bullpen.”
On the other hand, Lovullo will have another bat because there isn’t another arm. With Jace Peterson, the Diamondbacks will have another left-handed batter off the bench, which is something they didn’t have against Philadelphia. This playoffs, Peterson, on the other hand, is 0 for 1. He also hit.183/.276/.258 in 93 at-bats with Arizona after being traded from Oakland at the trade deadline.
“There were some times when I looked down at the lineup card and we were flexed out a little bit,” said Lovullo. “I thought, ‘That would be nice to have another left-handed option.'” It comes down to whether or not a left-handed batter or even a left-handed starter could help us win a game, rather than the 13th or 14th pitcher who could help us get through a game when we don’t want to use our A or B relief.
They are taking a chance, and the Fall Classic will show if Lovullo and the Diamondbacks can keep it up.
