Sports Interaction
Promotions
Sports Interaction
Promotions

MLB: Phillies Look Strong, D-Backs and Brewers Set for War

  • Al Dannity's Author profile. Al Dannity

Add Sports Interacton as Your Preferred News Source

The potential for big time pitching battles always sets Al Dannity’s pulse racing. That’s why he’s going to be glued to the TV through the NLDS.

Check your calendar
What time is it? Why it’s Doctober. That’s settled, the Phillies in a sweep… Okay, maybe I’m being a little too hasty. The Cardinals did just complete a dramatic comeback to claim the wildcard slot and they owned Philadelphia in the regular season. This however is not the regular season. While the Cardinals were desperately trying to squeeze out every last win, the Phillies were able to rest players and get them perfectly focussed for the big games.

The result? On Saturday Roy Halladay takes the mound. In Game 2 it will be Cliff Lee and he’ll be followed by Cole Hamels in Game 3. If the Cardinals are somehow still standing after that, they face the prospect of Roy Oswalt and then another dose from the Doctor. Pitching alone doesn’t win a playoff series but, as the Giants showed last year, it certainly helps. Much like the Rays, fatigue is going to be a factor for the Cardinals. They are emotionally drained after the race for the wildcard. Now, against the most daunting starting rotation in Baseball, they have to somehow raise their game again. I don’t see it happening, I like the Phillies to sweep.

This is going to be awesome
The one reason we should all be grateful the Cards got the job done, well at least those of us who aren’t fans of the Braves, is that it allowed the Arizona-Milwaukee series to happen. There really couldn’t be two teams better matched for the postseason. Once again, pitching rotations will come into play big time.

The Brewers rotation of Randy Wolf, Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, and Zack Greinke, is arguably a little stronger than the Diamondbacks foursome of Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, and Josh Collmenter. I say a little because there really isn’t much to choose between these sets of starters. One huge X factor to consider is the decision to start Gallardo in Game 1. With a 10-2 home record, that’s a big weapon on Milwaukee’s side for the start of this series. I like the Brewers to squeeze home but it’s going the full five games. Get ready for a big battle to make the NLCS.