It’s the most unlikely matchup in the 2018 MLB playoffs, but it could be the most exciting. The Milwaukee Brewers carry plenty of momentum into their best-of-five National League Division Series matchup with the Colorado Rockies after knocking off the Chicago Cubs in Monday’s tie-breaker for their eighth straight win, the NL Central title and the best record in the senior circuit. And that could be meaningful in these playoffs since the Brew Crew had the best home record in the NL. The teams do have one thing in common as they head into their first ever postseason meeting: they both won in Wrigley in the span of about 30 hours to force this matchup.
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers Schedule
Game 1 – Rockies at Brewers, Thursday, October 4, 2018, 5:07 p.m. ET ( FS1 )
Game 2 – Rockies at Brewers, Friday, October 5, 2018, 4:15 p.m. ET ( FS1 )
Game 3 – Brewers at Rockies, Sunday, October 7, 2018, 4:37 p.m. ET ( MLBN )
Game 4 – Brewers at Rockies, Monday, October 8 (If Necessary)
Game 5 – Rockies at Brewers, Wednesday, October 10 (If Necessary)
Odds Analysis
About two weeks ago the Brewers were battling with the Cardinals for a wild card spot and now they are the best team in the NL. Milwaukee got hot when it counted, winning their final seven regular season games to eliminate St. Louis and set up the tie-breaker with the Cubs. They made it eight in a row by defeating Chicago in the division tie-breaker on Monday. Rarely does momentum carry over into the postseason, but the Brewers have to like their chances with the roll they’re on.
Winning the tie-breaker also gives Milwaukee home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs and that’s a big deal. The Brewers won 51 games at Miller Park during the season, the most in the NL and the fourth-highest total in baseball.
Any other team probably would have caved, but not the Rockies. A resilient group all season, the Rox did it again by defeating the Cubs in the Wild Card game. I have to give Bud Black and his staff credit after the ordeal the Rockies went through. They lost Monday’s division tie-breaker in Los Angeles. Afterward they boarded a plane for Chicago to play in the Wild Card game, which lasted 13 innings and five hours. Now it’s on to Milwaukee for the NLDS. It makes me wonder just how focused they will be. The Rox also ended the season on a roll, going 19-8 in September and winning nine of their last 10 games before dropping Monday’s game.
Head To Head
The teams played seven times during the regular season with the Brewers holding a 5-2 advantage in those games. Milwaukee won three of four when the teams met in Colorado in May and took two of three games at Miller Park in early August. The Brewers outscored Colorado 40-31 in the season series.
Brewers Outlook
It’s a good thing Milwaukee has home field for this series because playing in the thin air of Denver could be a problem for their starters that have surrendered a bunch of long balls. The pen saved the season and the group compiled the fifth-lowest ERA. And they got stronger later in the year with Corey Knebel returning to form and Joakim Soria recovering from an injury. Wade Miley is expected to get the Game 1 start likely followed by Chase Anderson with former Rockie Jhoulys Chacin getting the Game 3 call.
Offensively, the Crew is led by MVP candidate Christian Yelich, who led the NL with a .326 average and nearly captured the Triple Crown. He finished behind Colorado’s Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story with 36 homers and missed out on the RBI title by two. The Brewers had two other players, Jesus Aguilar and Travis Shaw, reach the 30-homer plateau and Ryan Braun added 20 as the Crew totaled 218 during the regular season.
Rockies Outlook
Taking advantage of the thin air at their home park, it’s always been about offense for the Rockies. They have their own MVP candidate in Arenado, who hit .297 during the regular season with 38 homers and 110 RBIs. Story added 37 dingers and six other players had at least 11. We know the Rockies can hit and score, but can their pitching hold up? The staff ERA was again among the worst in baseball, but the numbers are skewed playing half their games in Denver.
Having to play two games to get here and going 13 innings in the Wild Card contest put a strain on the pitching staff. Black used German Marquez in the tie-break game and Kyle Freeland stymied the Cubs in the Wild Card. Antonio Senzatela takes the hill in Game 1 with the Game 2 starter up in the air. By the time the Rockies can return to a normal rotation, it might be too late.
Though the Brewers won five of seven meetings during the season, the games were close. Milwaukee earned home field advantage and it will pay off in this series. The staff is better at Miller Park and the Crew had the best home record in the league. With all the bangers and firepower, this will come down to a battle of the pens, and the Brewers have the edge in that department. And that’s the difference. Take Milwaukee to wrap this series up in four games.MLB Pick
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