NLDS: Brewers vs. Diamondbacks

What a great weekend in Wisconsin sports! The Packers host the Broncos on Sunday and the Badgers host Nebraska in a Big 10 showdown Saturday night. The weekend begins with the Brewers hosting the Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the NLDS. The Dbacks took the regular season series 4 games to 3, but the Brew Crew enjoys what should be a decisive home-field advantage in the series.

In today’s Game 1 matchup, the Brewers send Yovani Gallardo (17-10, 3.52 ERA) to the mound to face Dbacks hurler and former Yankees bust, Ian Kennedy (21-4, 2.88 ERA).

The Brewers boast a 57-24 mark at home and feature a lineup brimming with pop. Left fielder Ryan Braun (.332 / 33 / 111) and first basemen Prince Fielder (.299 / 38 / 120) lead the charge. Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan, and Rickie Weeks complement a lineup with very few weaknesses, see: Betancourt, Yuniesky and McGehee, Casey.  Interesting strategy by manager Ron Roenicke to go with Jerry Hairston Jr. at the hot corner today over the struggling McGehee. It’s a totally justifiable move though, as McGehee has hit a disappointing .223 this season and may actually function better as a pinch hitter.

The Diamondbacks came out of seemingly nowhere to win the NL West this season. The lineup isn’t as scary as Milwaukee’s, but right fielder Justin Upton (.289 / 31 / 88) is a beast. Center fielder Chris Young and catcher Miguel Montero also can do damage with the bat and excel at defense.

This blogger predicts that the Brewers will ride a surge of momentum into the playoffs and out muscle the less – talented Dbacks. Arizona could steal a game at home in Phoenix, but home field advantage will be enough for the Brewers should the series go for five games.

Brewers take the series 3-1. Bank on it (if gambling were legal).

(stats courtesy of mlb.com and espn.com)

- Dan