ESPN insider: Brewers “wrong match-up” for D-backs
Oct 1, 2011, 3:33 AM | Updated: 4:44 am
PHOENIX – Most of the so-called experts are picking the Milwaukee Brewers to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS.
ESPN insider Keith Law is one of them as he predicts the Brewers to hold off the D-backs in five games.
“This just looks to me like the wrong match-up and not the most ideal opponent for them,” said Law on the Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf show Friday.
Law believes the Brewers have an edge in two distinct ways.
“Home field advantage probably matters more for Milwaukee than any other club in the playoffs,” said Law.
“Also, the match-up is really good for the Milwaukee hitters. They have a lot of power hitters in the middle of their line-up and Arizona rolls out generally a fly ball oriented staff particularly their top two starters.”
The analyst does make good points, but conversely the Brewers have been an awful road team this season and if Arizona’s top two starters of Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson can steal one game in Milwaukee, the momentum would swing Arizona’s way since the Brewers would be forced to win a game in Phoenix.
Limiting the effectiveness of Milwaukee power hitters Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder will be challenging, so it will be crucial for D-backs pitching to keep other hitters in front of them off base to limit their potential damage.
