Three Reasons The Rockies Can Beat The Brewers in the NLDS

When the Brewers beat the Cubs on Monday, I felt a little better about the Rockies losing to the Dodgers. Milwaukee is a much better matchup for the Rockies than the Cubs would have been, even as they come in winners of eight in a row. Here are a few reasons why the Rockies can beat the Brewers and advance to the NLCS.

Starting Pitching

The Rockies will trot out right-hander Antonio Senzatela against the Brewers today and Milwaukee will send out right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who won’t be in long anyway after Brewers Manager Craig Counsell told the media yesterday that game one would be a “bullpen day” for the Brewers.

Senzatela is probably the Rockies weakest link in terms of starting pitching, but he has been totally lights out in his last three starts. He’s given up just three earned runs in 16.2 innings with 13 strikeouts with a 1.62 ERA.

On the other hand, even though it’s expected that Woodruff won’t be in long, he started against Colorado back in May for the Brewers and was shellacked for seven earned runs on nine hits in three innings.

The Brewers won a division, and a good one at that, with no clear cut number one starter. Jhoulys Chacin had a good season, but I wouldn’t call him an ace, even though he was brilliant in game 163 vs. Chicago.