| 2023 National League Wild Card Series | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 3–4 | ||||||||||||
| Television | ESPN2 | ||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Jon Sciambi,Doug Glanville, and Jesse Rogers | ||||||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
| Radio announcers | Roxy Bernstein andGregg Olson | ||||||||||||
| Umpires | Sean Barber,Dan Bellino,Mike Estabrook,Alan Porter (crew chief),Mark Ripperger,Chris Segal | ||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 3–4 | ||||||||||||
| Television | ESPN | ||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Karl Ravech,David Cone,Eduardo Pérez, andBuster Olney | ||||||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
| Radio announcers | Mike Couzens andChris Burke | ||||||||||||
| Umpires | Jordan Baker,Doug Eddings,James Hoye (crew chief),Marvin Hudson, Edwin Moscoso,Stu Scheurwater | ||||||||||||
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The2023 National League Wild Card Series were the twobest-of-three playoff series inMajor League Baseball’s (MLB)2023 postseason to determine the participating teams of the2023 National League Division Series (NLDS). Both Wild Card Series began on October 3, with Game 2s scheduled for October 4.ESPN broadcast both Wild Card Series in the United States together withESPN Radio.[1]
These matchups are:
Under the current playoff structure, there are twoWild Card Series in both theAmerican League (AL) andNational League (NL). The lowest-seeded division winner and three wild card teams in each league play in a best-of-three series after the end of the regular season. The winners of each league's wild card rounds advance to face the two best division winners in that league'sDivision Series.
TheMilwaukee Brewers (92–70) clinched their first postseason appearance since2021, and their fifth in six seasons on September 22[2] and theNL Central on September 26.[3][4] Due to having the worst record of the three National League division winners, they are locked into the third seed. They played host to the sixth-seededArizona Diamondbacks (84–78), who clinched a postseason berth on September 30, for their first postseason appearance since2017, and just the second since 2011.[5] Arizona won the season series against Milwaukee, 4–2.[6] Historically, this is the second postseason match-up between the two teams, following the2011 National League Division Series, which was won by the Brewers in five games.
ThePhiladelphia Phillies (90–72), the defending National League champions, clinched their second straight postseason appearance on September 26 and also clinched the fourth-seed as the best non-division winner and home-field advantage for the wild card series.[7][8] They played host to the fifth-seededMiami Marlins (84–78), who clinched a postseason berth on September 30.[9] Miami won the season series against Philadelphia, 7–6, despite being outscored 64–55.[10] This is the first postseason match-up between the NL East division rivals.
As the top two division winners (seeds by record), theAtlanta Braves (104–58) andLos Angeles Dodgers (100–62) earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage in theNLDS.[11][12]
Arizona won the series, 2–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 3 | Arizona Diamondbacks – 6, Milwaukee Brewers – 3 | American Family Field | 3:36 | 40,892[13] |
| 2 | October 4 | Arizona Diamondbacks – 5, Milwaukee Brewers – 2 | American Family Field | 2:58 | 41,166[14] |
Philadelphia won the series, 2–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 3 | Miami Marlins – 1,Philadelphia Phillies – 4 | Citizens Bank Park | 2:46 | 45,662[15] |
| 2 | October 4 | Miami Marlins – 1,Philadelphia Phillies – 7 | Citizens Bank Park | 2:30 | 45,738[16] |
This was the second postseason match-up between Milwaukee and Arizona, following the2011 National League Division Series which Milwaukee won in five games.[17]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Joe Mantiply (1–0) LP:Corbin Burnes (0–1) Sv:Paul Sewald (1) Home runs: AZ:Corbin Carroll (1),Ketel Marte (1),Gabriel Moreno (1) MIL:Tyrone Taylor (1) Attendance: 40,892 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corbin Burnes started for Milwaukee, while rookieBrandon Pfaadt started for Arizona. The Brewers scored in the bottom of the first on aCarlos Santana RBI single that scoredChristian Yelich. In the second,Tyrone Taylor hit a two-run home run off Pfaadt to give the Brewers a 3–0 lead. Arizona answered with a two-run home run fromCorbin Carroll in the top of the third. With this homer, Carroll became the youngest-ever Diamondback to homer in the postseason. The next batter,Ketel Marte, hit a solo home run to tie the game at three. The Brewers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but did not score.Gabriel Moreno hit a solo homer in the fourth to give Arizona a one-run lead. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but third basemanEvan Longoria turned a double play to get the Diamondbacks out of the jam.Christian Walker added to Arizona's lead in the top of the ninth with a two-run double, making it 6–3.Paul Sewald earned the save for the Diamondbacks. This ended a seven-game road losing streak for Arizona in the postseason dating back to the2007 NLCS.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Zac Gallen (1–0) LP:Freddy Peralta (0–1) Sv:Paul Sewald (2) Home runs: AZ:Alek Thomas (1) MIL: None Attendance: 41,166 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2 was déjà vu for Milwaukee as they scored two quick runs against Arizona's aceZac Gallen in the first inning.Freddy Peralta was dealing early in Game 2. He struck out five through 31⁄3 innings and had a no-hitter going through four scoreless innings. Diamondbacks center fielderAlek Thomas homered to break up the no-no in the fifth. The Diamondbacks rallied for four runs in the sixth inning withCorbin Carroll's double making it a serious threat andKetel Marte's two-RBI single giving Arizona the lead. A wild pitch and then a blooper with eyes scored the next two runs to give the Diamondbacks a 5–2 lead, which ended up being the final score.[18]
With Milwaukee's defeat, theNL Central as a division moved to a combined 0–7 in postseason series since2020. This was alsoCraig Counsell's last game as Brewers' manager, as he signed with therivalChicago Cubs in the off-season.[19]
2023NLWC (2–0):Arizona Diamondbacks beatMilwaukee Brewers
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 82,058 Average attendance: 41,029 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This was the first postseason match-up between Philadelphia and Miami.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 4 | 11 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Zack Wheeler (1–0) LP:Jesús Luzardo (0–1) Sv:Craig Kimbrel (1) Attendance: 45,662 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zack Wheeler started for the defending National League champion Phillies againstJesús Luzardo for the Marlins. After a scoreless first two innings,Alec Bohm broke the tie with an RBI double in the third inning. The Phillies tacked on two more in the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles fromBryson Stott andCristian Pache to open up a 3–0 lead. Luzardo ended his night with three runs and eight hits given up to go along with five strikeouts over four innings. The Marlins got on the board in the seventh after an RBI single fromBryan De La Cruz chased Wheeler.José Alvarado came on in relief to strike outYuli Gurriel to end the inning. Wheeler ended his night giving up one run and striking out eight batters over 62⁄3 strong innings. Philadelphia tacked on another run in the eighth on aNick Castellanos RBI double beforeCraig Kimbrel shut the door in the ninth to give the Phillies a 1–0 lead in the series.
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| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Aaron Nola (1–0) LP:Braxton Garrett (0–1) Home runs: MIA: None PHI:J. T. Realmuto (1),Bryson Stott (1) Attendance: 45,738 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aaron Nola looked to send the Phillies to a rematch of the2022 NLDS whileBraxton Garrett toed the rubber hoping to keep the Marlins' playoff hopes alive. Nola ended a Marlins scoring threat in the third, throwing outJon Berti who got caught attempting to steal third base. AKyle Schwarber RBI double andTrea Turner RBI single started the scoring for the Phillies in the bottom half of the inning, withJ. T. Realmuto tacking on another with a solo home run in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth,Bryson Stott hit agrand slam off ofAndrew Nardi to extend the Phillies' lead to 7–0. Nola finished his night after seven strong innings, scattering three hits, and striking out three. The Marlins put a run on the board in the ninth with aJosh Bell RBI single, butGregory Soto slammed the door, striking outJazz Chisholm Jr. on three pitches to send the Phillies to theNLDS.
2023NLWC (2–0):Philadelphia Philllies beatMiami Marlins
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Marlins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia Phillies | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 18 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 91,400 Average attendance: 45,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
