Diamondbacks set rotation for NLCS, with Gallen-Kelly to start Games 1-2

The Diamondbacks are strategically planning their pitching rotation for the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly will start Games 1 and 2, respectively, giving the Diamondbacks a strong 1-2 punch. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo expressed his hope that Gallen and Kelly will pitch as many games as possible in the series.

In the previous round, Gallen and Kelly started in reverse order due to the rotation shakeup at the end of the regular season and into the wild-card round.

The Phillies, on the other hand, will counter with their own formidable duo of right-handers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, setting up an intriguing matchup in both games.

As for Games 3 and 4, Lovullo referred to the starting pitchers as “TBA,” but hinted that right-hander Brandon Pfaadt would likely be the choice for Game 3 at Chase Field.

However, Lovullo acknowledged that plans might change due to unforeseen circumstances such as extra-inning games or shortened outings. The Diamondbacks are preparing for different scenarios to ensure they are ready for any situation.

Lovullo revealed that he and his staff had a 90-minute meeting on Friday to discuss and plan for these contingencies.

In terms of the roster makeup, the Diamondbacks are considering a shift to an even split of 13 position players and 13 pitchers, although no final decision has been made yet.

Jace Peterson, who was left off the division series roster but added due to Jake McCarthy’s injury, may be the player to lose his spot for this round. Right-hander Bryce Jarvis, who was on the wild-card roster but not the division series, is also a potential candidate.

Regarding McCarthy’s injury, Lovullo all but ruled him out for the rest of the postseason. McCarthy suffered a Grade 2 strain in his right lat and will require months to recover.

Despite missing Friday’s workout, catcher Gabriel Moreno is expected to be ready for Game 1. Moreno was hit on the hand during the division series but X-rays came back negative. Lovullo stated that the team is fully committed to starting Moreno in Game 1.

Lovullo shared that Moreno would receive some work on Friday and would continue to participate in team workouts on Saturday and Sunday, giving him ample time to recover and assess his condition.

In a separate anecdote, it is worth mentioning that Kelly has a personal connection to Citizens Bank Park. Last year, he flew his brother, Reid, to Philadelphia as a birthday present for Game 3 of the World Series. Kelly’s brother is a lifelong Phillies fan, and they both enjoyed witnessing the Phillies’ victory over the Houston Astros.

Kelly is uncertain if the experience in the stands will benefit him when he takes the field for his start. He acknowledged that the energy as a fan is different from being on the field, but he is eager to feel the atmosphere firsthand.

He added that he has witnessed the Phillies’ fans at their loudest and believes it will be a remarkable experience.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks set rotation for NLCS vs. Phillies, mull makeup of roster