Diamondbacks drop first to Astros, miss opportunity to clinch playoff berth
The Diamondbacks lost on Friday night, missing a chance to clinch a playoff spot, but if there was a point right-hander Zac Gallen seemed most focused on in the aftermath of his team’s 2-1 setback to the Houston Astros, it was that they are going to have that same chance again Saturday. And Sunday, if it comes to it.
“We still have two left to play,” Gallen said. “It’s in our hands.”
There is no denying the Diamondbacks remain well positioned to claim one of the two available wild-card spots in the National League. They need only to win one of their final two games against the Astros — or have the Cincinnati Reds lose one of the two they have left against the St. Louis Cardinals. And even if those things do not happen, there remains a narrow path for the Diamondbacks to advance.
But it is also clear things are not unfolding in the most advantageous way for them, at least insofar as it pertains to their likelihood of advancing in the playoffs should they get there.
By losing on Friday, the Diamondbacks are forced to give the ball to right-hander Merrill Kelly on Saturday. That means neither he nor Gallen, who started on Friday, will be available to start the first game of the wild-card round.
And with Justin Verlander set to pitch for the Astros on Saturday, it seems possible the Diamondbacks might need to pull out all the stops to win on Sunday, with one possibility being to start right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on short rest in the season finale.
MLB Playoffs clinching scenarios: DBacks, Astros, Marlins, Rangers, Blue Jays near berths
“It was part of the game plan the whole time, so I kind of parked it in neutral thinking that it was going to come down to this,” manager Torey Lovullo said of having to use both of his top two starters this weekend. “I think we’re fine. It would be great to give guys rest, get them off their feet. That’s just not the way we do things.”
Still, all the Diamondbacks need to do in the next two days is something they already have done 84 times this year.
“We control our own destiny,” Gallen said. “… We also could get some help from some other teams. I think we’re just going to come out and play our game, kind of like we did tonight, but we couldn’t get anything going. I don’t think anyone is really panicked, to be honest with you.
“We just have to go out and do what we’ve got to do — what we’ve been doing the last two weeks. We’ve hit a little slump here the last two days, but other than that, the last two weeks I think we’ve won more games than we’ve lost.”
Even if they get swept — and even if the Reds complete their sweep — the Diamondbacks could still advance. They would need serious help. First, the Marlins would have to lose each of their next two games against the Pirates. Then the Marlins would need to lose again on Monday in the completion of their suspended game from Thursday night against the New York Mets, a game the Marlins lead, 2-1, in the ninth.
The Diamondbacks came within a couple of feet of tying Friday night’s game on two occasions. With the tying runs in scoring position in the eighth, the Diamondbacks’ Tommy Pham hit a bouncer that appeared ticketed for center field. That is, until Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena gloved it on a dive to his left, popped up and fired across the diamond, where first baseman Jose Abreu dug his throw out of the dirt.
Then, trailing 2-0 with a runner on in the ninth, Gabriel Moreno drilled what looked like the game-tying homer. He took a few slow steps out of the box, clearly thinking the it was gone, only to watch it hit off the wall in the deepest part of the park.
“It’s a hard place to hit it out, in that gap,” Moreno said, speaking through interpreter Alex Arpiza. “But it is what is.”
Said Lovullo: “I thought he got enough of it. He hit the ball, I glanced at him and he had that trot going like it was going to go over the fence. But that’s the beauty of baseball.”
The Astros scored their only runs on one swing in the sixth off Gallen. With two on and two out, Abreu rocketed a deep drive to straightaway center field, where the ball hit just at the top of the yellow line high up on the center-field wall. Initially ruled a three-run home run, the call was reversed to a two-run double after a review.
Despite the close calls late, it was another quiet night at the plate for the Diamondbacks, the third consecutive day they mustered little in the way of offense. They were held to just four hits on Friday and have just seven hits in their past 24 innings, a span in which they have scored only two runs.
“We’ve got to bring it tomorrow,” Lovullo said. “We’ve got to sleep this one off. Figure out how to get better. Make some quality adjustments and make sure we’re ready tomorrow at 5:10.”
—Nick Piecoro
More: MLB playoff matchups, bracket, teams, postseason picture if 2023 playoffs began today
DBacks sensing clinch possibility: ‘Today’s a little different’
After days of byzantine playoff-clinching scenarios, the Diamondbacks arrived at Chase Field with a level of simplicity to their situation, one that seemed to provide a certain buzz to the afternoon. They did not need to concern themselves with the out-of-town scoreboard watching. If they won, they were in.
“This is what it’s all about,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “This is why you play the game. These are the days you dream about as a child.”
Lovullo said the vibe in the clubhouse felt more or less like it has most of the year. Through the high points from early in the year and even into their ugly stretch in July and August, Lovullo said he sensed a level of consistency in the room on a daily basis. That said, he felt Friday was unique.
“I think they understand it’s a process, (but) today’s a little different,” Lovullo said. “We walked in here knowing that if we do X, Y is waiting for us. I know they have a granular mind-set. They want to take care of today the best way they know how, and that’s the feeling I always get from this group.”
In the meantime, the Diamondbacks are mapping out the route for all scenarios. If they have not clinched by Saturday, right-hander Merrill Kelly will start that day. If they have not clinched by Sunday, Lovullo said right-hander Brandon Pfaadt is an option to pitch on three days’ rest rather than the usual four.
On the flip side, he said he and pitching coach Brent Strom talked about the idea of removing right-hander Zac Gallen early in Friday night’s game in the event they clinch due to events elsewhere, that is to say, if both the Reds and Cubs lose. And he suggested Kelly would not start on Saturday unless their playoff chances were undecided.
On Friday, Lovullo again rolled out what has been a fairly typical lineup over the past several weeks, and while he told reporters that fatigue has been probably his “biggest area of concern” as they push toward the finish line, he said his position players are pushing to keep playing.
“One by one, they’ve been over to me to say, ‘Hey, I’m right there. If you need me, don’t you worry, I got you,’” Lovullo said. “Those are those conversations that I’m so thankful for. Everybody is doing it. Everybody is ready for that next step. Everybody is tired right now.
“But I know I said it seven or 10 days ago, but if you want it bad enough, you’re never tired. I think that’s where everybody is right now.”
—Nick Piecoro
Astros scratch starting pitcher ahead of series opener
The Houston Astros scratched right-hander J.P. France from Friday night’s start due to a family emergency, the team said, and will give the ball to right-hander Jose Urquidy instead in the opener of their series against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Urquidy, a member of the Astros starting rotation for most of 2021-22, has made just 15 appearances (nine starts) this year, logging a 5.84 ERA. He fired three sharp innings against the Royals in his most recent appearance, giving up just one walk and no runs with two strikeouts.
France has a 3.83 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) this year.
—Nick Piecoro
DBacks honor Greg Schulte on final regular-season homestand
Prior to Friday's game, the Diamondbacks surprised their long-time radio voice, Greg Schulte, by naming the radio booth in his name. The man known by all as the "Gub'nuh" is retiring at the end of the 2023 season.
“We could not think of a better way to celebrate a career like Greg’s and the impact he has had on the Arizona Diamondbacks organization,” Derrick Hall, the club's president and CEO, said in a news release. “Greg’s voice is synonymous with D-backs baseball and generations of D-backs fans have experienced the game through listening to his calls on the radio. Now, his legacy will live on right here at Chase Field as the next generation of broadcasters make calls from the Greg Schulte Radio Booth.”
Over the past 26 years Schulte has called nearly 4,000 Diamondbacks games. He has been part of the Phoenix broadcast scene since 1979.
—Nick Piecoro
Friday's Diamondbacks-Astros pitching matchup
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (17-8, 3.49) vs. Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (2-3, 5.84).
Gallen might not have made this start had the Diamondbacks clinched on Thursday, but he will since they still need to punch their ticket for the postseason. … Gallen threw well in New York in his most recent start, giving up just three hits and two walks in six scoreless innings. He struck out eight and elicited 13 swinging strikes, the most in a start since July 26. … In four career starts against the Astros, Gallen has a 3.24 ERA. Most recently, he faced them last season, giving up two runs in seven innings. ... As mentioned above, Urquidy is making the start in place of France, who had to leave the team because of a family emergency.
Coming up
Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.38) vs. Astros RHP Justin Verlander (12-8, 3.32).
Sunday: At Chase Field, 12:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (8-8, 5.35) vs. Astros RHP Cristian Javier (9-5, 4.67).
One away: How the Diamondbacks can clinch a playoff spot on Friday
Last ride: Diamondbacks’ Greg Schulte set for final stage of radio career
What to know about the Houston Astros
The Astros are the reigning World Series champs but things have not come so easily for them this year. They spent the bulk of the year in second place in the American League West, which is where they are today despite spending a little time atop the division earlier this month. After a miserable series against the Royals last weekend, they bounced back this week by taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners, whom they lead by 1 1/2 games for the third and final wild-card spot in the AL. The Astros still have a dangerous team, particularly on offense, with DH Yordan Alvarez (31 homers, 1.001 OPS), RF Kyle Tucker (29 homers, .884 OPS) and 2B Jose Altuve (.316 average, .934 OPS) leading the way. They have dealt with a number of injuries to their pitching staff this season and rank only in the middle of the pack in ERA (4.00) in the AL. RHP Justin Verlander, whom they reacquired in August in a deal with the Mets, has thrown well for them in 10 starts. He was especially sharp on Monday vs. Seattle, when he fired eight innings of one-run ball. RHP Ryan Pressly has a 3.64 ERA and has converted 30 of 36 save chances. RHPs Bryan Abreu and Hector Neris have been excellent in setup roles.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks drop first to Astros, miss opportunity to clinch playoff berth
