UNC Baseball: Tar Heels in the Pros: Postseason Edition

The Major League Baseball postseason begins today, and three former UNC baseball players are participating in the playoffs.

As the Major League Baseball postseason begins, a few UNC Baseball players are making an appearance in this year’s event as their teams were one of the twelve teams to compete in the 2023 Fall Classic. So, which of your former Tar Heels can you catch this October?

Former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen is making his first career appearance in the Major League playoffs as he has helped the Arizona Diamondbacks to the postseason for the first time since 2017. Gallen has had a great season, starting 34 games and posting a 17-9 overall record across 210 innings pitched. His ERA in 2023 is 3.47, with a 1.12 WHIP. Gallen is scheduled to start Game Two of the best-of-three series in the Wild Card Round versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

Speaking of the Milwaukee Brewers, Gallen’s former UNC baseball teammate, J.B. Bukauskas, is in the MLB Playoffs this season with the franchise. Bukauskas has only played in five games in 2023 for the Brewers after seeing action in one game with the Seattle Mariners earlier this season. In his five games, he has a 0.83 WHIP across six innings pitched with six strikeouts in relief out of the Milwaukee bullpen. It’s unknown when, or if, Bukauskas will get playing time during the playoffs, but possible as he will be used as a relief pitcher for the Brewers. The winner of the Brewers-Diamondbacks matchup will face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Former UNC baseball catcher Jacob Stallings is the third and final Tar Heel making an appearance in this year’s Fall Classic. Stallings is a catcher with the Miami Marlins and has split time behind the plate with Marlins catcher Nick Fortes, playing in 88 games in 2023. Stallings hasn’t been great offensively but is a reliable option defensively for Miami. He is batting 0.191 with 20 RBIs this year in 241 total at-bats. The Marlins will face the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card round in a best-of-three format, with the winner advancing to face the No. 1 seed Atlanta Braves.

MLB Wild Card Schedule for the involved Tar Heels are below:

Tuesday, October 3rd

Game 1: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers – 7:08 PM ET on ESPN2

Game 1: Miami Marlins @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:08 PM ET on ESPN

Wednesday, October 4th

Game 2: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers – 7:08 PM ET on ESPN2

Game 2: Miami Marlins @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:08 PM ET on ESPN

Thursday, October 5th

Game 3: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers – 7:08 PM ET on ESPN2 (if necessary)

Game 3: Miami Marlins @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:08 PM ET on ESPN (if necessary) 

We wish all of our former Tar Heels the best of luck in this year’s Fall Classic!

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