Zac Gallen’s strength as a pitcher normally comes from smart pitch sequencing and precise fastball location. His four-seam fastball doesn’t have much movement or velocity, usually sitting under 95 mph, so he relies on location to set up his off-speed stuff. In his best outings, he works the fastball down low, occasionally mixing it up with high heat to set up his slider and changeup. That mix has worked to keep hitters off balance, as shown in earlier at-bats against top hitters like Freddie Freeman.
But in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Phillies, Gallen couldn’t locate his fastball, and the Phillies made him pay. First pitch of the game, he threw a 92 mph fastball right down the middle to Kyle Schwarber, who crushed it for a home run. Then Bryce Harper came up and got a similar gift: another poorly placed fastball, again the first pitch, which he launched for his fourth homer of the postseason. Two batters, two meatballs, two homers. Later, Nick Castellanos jumped on a fastball he drove the other way for a third Phillies home run. Gallen couldn’t even get into his usual rhythm with off-speed stuff because his fastball missed its spots.
The Phillies are locked in right now and punishing any mistakes. Gallen’s lack of fastball precision took away his biggest strength and gave the Phillies easy pitches to drive. Against a hot lineup like this, there’s no room for error, especially on first pitches.