3 keys for a D-backs comeback in NLCS

This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHOENIX -- The National League Championship Series resumes this afternoon (if you're in Phoenix, early evening if you’re on the East Coast) with Game 3 at Chase Field.

The D-backs desperately need a win to get back in this series and we came up with three keys for them to get that done:

1. Create chaos

The D-backs are at their best when they are stealing bases, taking the extra base and forcing the opposition into making mistakes.

That’s what they did through the first two rounds of the playoffs, but they haven’t been able to do that against the Phillies because they haven’t had the right players on at the right times and Philadelphia’s starters have done a really nice job of varying their times to the plate and mixing in a slide step.

“I told the guys at the start of the series, I said if we take care of the baseball defensively and don't give them free passes, you are going to be able to kill some of the chaos that they create because they're really good at that,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday. “Running, bunting, taking extra bases, tagging up at first base on fly balls to the outfield, that kind of thing. They take advantage of mistakes, and you have to eliminate that. I think we've done that.”

They sure have and the D-backs need to find a way to change that.

2. Get a lead

The D-backs never trailed in the NL Division Series against the Dodgers, but by contrast they have never led in the NLCS with the Phillies scoring in the first inning of both games.

That’s something that needs to change because it would greatly help reduce the pressure that’s being put on the D-backs pitchers to be perfect.

As the visitors in Game 3, the Phillies will get to bat first and it would be a huge lift if Brandon Pfaadt can hold them scoreless and give the offense a chance to get a lead against Ranger Suárez.

“If we don’t get on base and we don’t support the pitchers, we’re going to be [in trouble],” shortstop Geraldo Perdomo said.

3. Get production from starters outside of the Big Two

The D-backs had their aces going in Games 1 and 2 in Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. They are the pair Arizona has relied on heavily to get to this point.

If the D-backs are to get back in this series, though, they will need Pfaadt to step up in Game 3 and whoever they decide to go with in Game 4 as well.

And before you ask, no, the D-backs will not be bringing back Gallen or Kelly on short rest. It’s not something they’ve asked them to do all year and they’re not going to do so now.