Gamethread: NLCS Game 6/ALCS Game 7

In a few hours, at least one of this year’s World Series competitors will be determined

Arizona and Philadelphia will face each other for Game 6 of the NLCS. The Phillies pulled away for a 6-1 victory in Game 5, and they now hold a 3-2 lead in the series. As a result, they are only one victory away from a World Series appearance, and they have two chances to get that decisive win. Today, the teams are back in Philadelphia, where the Phillies won the first two games of this series.

Aaron Nola, 30, will take the mound for the Phillies. During the regular season, Nola was reliable (4.46 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 3.9 fWAR), and he has been terrific in the postseason (0.96 ERA, 1.70 FIP). During Game 2, Nola pitched six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and zero walks. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to mystify Arizona’s lineup.

Merrill Kelly, 35, will start for the Diamondbacks. Kelly had a 3.29 ERA and a 3.85 FIP during the regular season, rendering him a 3.2-fWAR pitcher in 177 ²⁄₃ innings. This postseason, Kelly has posted a 3.00 ERA and a 5.92 FIP in 12 innings. Kelly took the loss when he faced Nola in Game 2. During that game, Kelly allowed four earned runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings.

Here are the starting lineups:

This game is scheduled to begin at 4:07 p.m. Central on TBS.

The Astros and Rangers are tied at three games in the ALCS. It all comes down to tonight’s game in Houston, and the winner will advance to the World Series.

Cristian Javier (4.56 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 1.9 fWAR during the regular season) will start for the Astros. In 10 ²⁄₃ innings this postseason, Javier has posted a 1.69 ERA and a 4.19 FIP. In the ALDS, he shut down the Twins with five scoreless innings in Game 3, and in Game 3 against the Astros, he allowed only two runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings. The Astros will probably need another strong performance from him to survive.

Max Scherzer, 39, will pitch for the Rangers. Scherzer posted decent numbers during the regular season (3.77 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 2.2 fWAR), and he will surely be in the Hall of Fame. However, Scherzer struggled in Game 3, when he allowed five earned runs in four innings. Prior to today, that has been his only appearance in this year’s postseason.

Here are the starting lineups:

This has been an exhilarating series. Texas won the first two games on the road, and Houston stormed back to win the next three on the road. However, Texas did not lie down when the series returned to Houston in Game 6, and they added an exclamation point with an Adolis García grand slam. We will see if a home team finds a way to win a game, as road teams are 6-0 so far. Game 7 is scheduled to begin at 7:03 p.m. Central on FOX.