Jordan Shusterman, MLB Analyst at FOX Sports
Monday saw the Phillies offense ambush Zac Gallen, but Tuesday brought a more methodical takedown of Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. Once again, Kyle Schwarber was at the center of it all. Schwarber’s two homers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, tying him for seventh on the all-time list, only accounted for two runs in the Phillies’ dominating 10-0 victory. However, his increased offensive output in this series could prove crucial for the reigning NL champions moving forward.
The day before, Schwarber’s leadoff blast spoiled the Citizens Bank Park crowd, who had been eagerly awaiting action after three days off following the Phillies’ emotional destruction of the rival Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. Schwarber wasted no time, hitting a 117.1 mph shot off the second deck facing Gallen. The crowd erupted.
But on Tuesday, Schwarber decided not to swing at the first pitch from Kelly. He grounded out, hitting the ball hard but not nearly as hard as his previous homer. Trea Turner electrified the crowd with a solo shot shortly after, giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. However, Kelly settled in and didn’t allow another hit until Schwarber stepped up to the plate again in the third inning.
Kelly’s first pitch to Schwarber was a changeup, the same pitch Schwarber had grounded out on earlier. Schwarber took it for a ball. Kelly then set up for a heater on the outer half, but missed his spot and paid the price with a center-cut fastball that Schwarber sent over the fence for a home run.
As the game progressed, Kelly seemed to improve, successfully retiring the rest of the Philadelphia lineup in his second journey through. With just 70 pitches through five innings, manager Torey Lovullo trusted Kelly to face Schwarber for a third time in the sixth inning.
Schwarber anticipated how Kelly would approach him in this round. “Some guys are stubborn with what they wanna do to you. And then there are guys who will kinda drop their game plan and try to do something else,” Schwarber later explained.
Kelly had previously found success with his changeup against Schwarber, but had struggled with his fastball. In the sixth inning, Kelly decided not to take any chances. He threw two changeups, both outside for balls. The third changeup, however, landed in the strike zone. Schwarber recognized it and took a swing, sending the ball 427 feet to right-center for his second homer of the game.
With Schwarber’s second blast, Kelly was replaced, and the Phillies went on to score four more runs in the inning.
Schwarber’s performances in this postseason feel eerily similar to his contributions last year. He heated up towards the end of the regular season and struggled in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but when the NLCS came around, he found his stride. His home run off Yu Darvish in Game 1 last year marked the beginning of a series of powerful hits that carried the Phillies to the World Series.
In this year’s regular season, Schwarber again finished strong, but faltered in the first two rounds of the playoffs. However, his two homers in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks show that he may be starting another hot streak.
Schwarber’s impact on the Phillies’ offense cannot be underestimated. He has the ability to change the game in an instant, as he did in Game 1, or gradually, as he did in Game 2. If Schwarber continues to perform at this level, the Phillies lineup becomes even more formidable.
Jordan Shusterman is a baseball writer for FOX Sports and half of the @CespedesBBQ duo.
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