Will Kimbrel pitch vs. D'Backs in Game 5 after blowing saves? Phillies fans have thoughts

The Phillies will look to curb a disastrous two-day losing streak Saturday night for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The seven-game series stands tied at 2-2.The Phils breezed through the first two games of the series at home, including a 10-0 blowout in Game 2 whose thundering crowd noise rivaled Rolling Stones shows during multiple dingers, and had Phils fans worrying most about which Texas team they'd play in the World Series.But in a carnival of missed opportunities and worn-out bullpens, the Phillies blew two straight leads with closer Craig Kimbrel on the mound in Arizona. In Game 4, they led 5-2 at the top of the seventh before giving up four runs in the final three innings.When Game 5 begins at 8:07 p.m. ET on Saturday in Arizona, Phillies fans have pressing questions on their mind: Namely, who in the heck is going to pitch?

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Who will pitch for Game 5 of the Phillies-Diamondbacks NLCS?

Game 5 looks to be Zack versus Zac, a rematch of the Game 1 starting pitchers.

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who's been dominant during the postseason the past two years, is listed as the likely starter, with a 2-0 record at 2.37 ERA in the postseason this year.

He'll face off against Zac Gallen, 2-1 in this postseason with a 4.96 ERA.

The last time the two pitchers squared off, the result was a 5-3 victory at home and a slew of home runs for the Phillies — including a sneak-attack blast into the right-field stands by Kyle Schwarber in the first pitch of the game.

Zac vs. Zack, Part I: Early homers raise a ruckus in Phillies NLCS Game 1 victory over Diamondbacks

Yeah, yeah, yeah: But will Craig Kimbrel pitch against the Diamondbacks again in Game 5? Game 6?

Kimbrel has had a storied career and an All-Star year. But he admitted he's had trouble turning his breaking balls into strikes this series and that the past two games "sucked."

In perhaps predictable form, Phillies fans have been merciless. They've taken to the site formerly known as Twitter to call for Kimbrel's head, his livelihood, and maybe his good looks to be taken away.

The team's manager, Rob Thomson, mused openly about not playing Kimbrel in another save situation.

"We have to talk about it, but do you put him in at a little lower leverage spot?’’ Thomson told reporters after Game 4. “I don't know.’’

Either way, the Phils' bullpen, including Kimbrel, has been taxed during the two-game losing streak, leaving the Saturday lineup in limbo. Four relievers have played two games in a row. Kimbrel has thrown 45 pitches in the past couple of days.

Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber defended Kimbrel in post-game interviews.

"In my opinion, he is a Hall of Famer,” he told The Athletic on Friday. "And you know what? This guy is a pro. He’s a guy who’s going to want the ball tomorrow, I’m sure. And we’re all going to rally around. We know what he’s about."

Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023 NLCS: Schedule, game times, TV

Zack Wheeler will take the mound in Phoenix, and Bryce Harper and the rest of the Phillies batting order will have a chance to regain the series lead when they take on the D'backs in Game 5 of the NLCS. The seven-game series is tied up 2-2.

Game 5 of the Phillies-Diamondbacks series is scheduled at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Time on TBS. Play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson, as well as analysts Jeff Francoeur and Ron Darling, will call the game for TBS.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Phillies fans roast Kimbrel: Who will pitch in Game 5 against D'Backs?