Los Angeles, CA – Arizona Diamondbacks’ right-hander, Zac Gallen, is determined to settle a score and potentially provide his team with a commanding advantage in the National League Division Series (NLDS). On Monday, Gallen will take the mound in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the aim of giving the underdog Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead in the series before heading back to Phoenix for Game 3 on Wednesday.
In Game 1, the Diamondbacks stunned Dodgers’ legend Clayton Kershaw, scoring six runs in the first inning, with five runs crossing the plate before the first out was recorded. The result was an 11-2 victory for Arizona.
Gallen, who has experienced some of his worst defeats this season against the Dodgers, knows he has a point to prove. He struggled against the Dodgers, giving up five earned runs in a game seven times this season, with two of those games coming against Los Angeles. Notably, he had a particularly challenging outing on August 28 when he allowed a career-high four home runs and six runs in a 7-4 loss. This tough stretch included a three-game sweep by the Dodgers in which the Diamondbacks were outscored 23-5.
Despite his struggles against the Dodgers, Gallen enters Game 2 with momentum, having secured a win in Arizona’s wild-card round against the Milwaukee Brewers. In that game, he limited the Brewers to two runs over six innings, leading the D-backs to a 5-2 victory.
On the Dodgers’ side, their bullpen had to cover the bulk of the innings in Game 1 after Kershaw’s early exit. As a result, Los Angeles is hoping that rookie right-hander Bobby Miller can provide them with a strong outing in Game 2. Miller faced the D-backs twice this season and managed a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA over 12 innings.
While the Dodgers have faced challenges with keeping their starting pitchers healthy this season, the emergence of Miller, known for his 100 mph fastball, has been a positive development. In his rookie campaign, Miller posted an 11-4 record with a 3.76 ERA over his first 22 starts.
With an off day on Sunday between Games 1 and 2, the Dodgers have a chance to regroup, both mentally and in terms of bullpen rest. Manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism that the day off could help cool down the Diamondbacks’ bats and benefit the bullpen, which was not heavily used in the series opener.
