Three Reasons The Rockies Can Beat The Brewers in the NLDS

Milwaukee has pitched well this season, but their potent offense has made them seem better than they are. They only have four pitchers who have started 20 games, and after that it’s been by committee.

They don’t strike many guys out, Chacin is the only starter with 150 strikeouts and they all have a propensity to walk guys, according to fangraphs, Milwaukee starters sit 20th in K/9 and 8th in BB/9. The Rockies have better starters at every spot in the rotation and in the playoffs that means something.

They also sit towards the bottom of the league (26th) in ground ball percentage at 40.7%, If the Rockies manage to steal game one, They get two games at Coors Field against non-ground-ball throwing pitchers, it could be interesting, and if they manage to steal game one Colorado will likely have Tyler Anderson, because Jon Gray was left off the NLDS roster, Germán Márquez, and Kyle Freeland for games two, three, and four. Pretty solid.

Managerial Experience

Yes, Craig Counsell is an excellent manager. The Brewers have improved their record by at least 10 games in each of his three full seasons at the helm.

But, he does not have the background of coaching in the playoffs that Bud Black does. This is Bud Black’s 5th postseason as a coach and second as manager. He has been coaching in the major leagues for 19 seasons and won the 2002 World Series with the Angels.

I don’t think that Counsell will fold under pressure by any means, but the way you manage in the playoffs does change, and he’s never done it before. He already made an interesting decision by deciding that game one would be a bullpen day.

It could end up being costly if the Rockies jump out to an early lead. Bud Black’s experience in being in countless games like this, although not a lot recently could end up having a big impact on who wins the series and moves on.