Post by Grubs - Philly on Mar 17, 2022 17:29:53 GMT -5
Milwaukee Brewers (119-43) vs. Atlanta Braves (98-64)
Two division winners who have been best in the league at limiting runs will play a first-one-to-four series for the right to fly the NL pennant. Despite a wide gap in season wins, the teams split evenly during their six-game tilt.
The Brewers are dominant at home and their road record is better than the Braves are at home, but a few factors will decide who heads to the World Series.
Brewers hitting versus Braves pitching
The Braves’ pitching staff propelled the team to the NL East crown and helped them race out to an insurmountable lead in the dog days of summer . The team suffered an unbelievable two career-ending injuries this year, as Brandon Waddell and Joe Martin retired following a torn UCL and torn labrum, respectively. Bullpen workhorse Yale Ziegler will be out for the first two games, but could return to spell a relief crew that’s likely going to have some work to do against the Brewers.
The Braves sport a 1-4 rotation that’s been tremendously effective. Pat Cypert had a terrible regular season against the Brewers, but he came up clutch in the NLDS against the Giants. Mark Eberle has had similar problems against Milwaukee, but this Atlanta team has been tested all season long. The bullpen is banged up and, as a result, some inexperienced arms have gotten the call, but the guys who are there are generally rock solid. Closer Brian Villeneuve led the league in saves, but also is prone to blowups.
The bats Atlanta faces are impressive. The Brew Crew was second in the NL in runs scored, and Milwaukee has taken advantage of a weak division to perfect its matchup-heavy lineups. Greg Jacks, Mike Perches, Rodolfo Rivera and rookie Nick Rollins can do serious damage to any pitcher, and home run-prone knuckler Mark Eberle needs to be effective if Atlanta doesn’t want to fall into an early hole. Top-to-bottom, the Brewers trot out talent that’s above league average. There’s hardly anywhere a pitcher can let up, and even Atlanta’s top-flight starters will have to stay focused to win.
Braves hitting versus Brewers pitching
On paper, this is the difference maker. Brewers pitchers have been even better than the Braves, and the Braves’ offense has been offensive in the wrong way for clumps of games.
Milwaukee’s pitching is relentless. Hawkeye Arnold, Branden Andexler and Tim Kierstad could all lead a rotation. Holden Christian is a 2/3 starter in the no. 4 spot. Importantly, he eats up innings and doesn’t tax the bullpen. While injuries have touched both Arnold and Kierstad, they can go deep into games when healthy. In the bullpen, Josh Blystone has the most saves, but his 17 closeouts represent just 40 percent of the Brewers’ total saves. Blayne Enlow is the weakest of the bunch, but can notch a key strikeout when needed. Five lefties, four righties…it’s just ugly. Or glorious.
The Braves’ Juan Gestoso may be the league’s best all-around player as well as a dead ringer for Dave Roberts. He stepped up with perfectly timed power in the NLDS and he’ll need to do the same while still trying to be the disruptive force he can be on the basepaths. He led the league in walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases. That’s a terrifying combo for Philadelphia. Or, you know, anyone else.
Injuries are once again a factor for the Braves, who have been without 2B Shane Shifflett since early September. Previously a replacement-level infielder, Shifflett had a career year. The bigger problem will be replacing Steve Goode, who went down in the NLDS with a thumb sprain. The Braves are not a power-focused team, and now Atlanta will be without a cleanup hitter for the series. Goode has been a plus defender in right field, so this one hurts. It seems likely that fourth outfielder Joerline De Los Santos will slot into left and Ian Happ will move over to right, leaving Art Winkler to patrol center field (for Germans and fly balls).
Key questions:
For Luke Grimmelbein
- You’ve spent all year (or the past three) getting this team where you want it. Anything you plan to touch before the first pitch?
- Do you plan to bring back Weatherwax or make any other changes to your NLDS squad?
- How do you feel about Will Dulihanty’s work with Luis Rivera out? Is it hard to not have a Rivera at first sometimes?
For Jim Leesch
- How will you shuffle your lineup to minimize Steve Goode’s absence?
- Have you given any thought to bumping up Nate Capriglione in your rotation? He’s given up half the homers Eberle has and has arguably been your best pitcher.
- You have some options with call-ups to replace guys who have been injured. Any surprises in store?
Prediction: Despite stunning stumbles for Milwaukee, this is their year. A depleted Braves squad will do all it can to stop them, but the Brewers triumph, 4-2.
Two division winners who have been best in the league at limiting runs will play a first-one-to-four series for the right to fly the NL pennant. Despite a wide gap in season wins, the teams split evenly during their six-game tilt.
The Brewers are dominant at home and their road record is better than the Braves are at home, but a few factors will decide who heads to the World Series.
Brewers hitting versus Braves pitching
The Braves’ pitching staff propelled the team to the NL East crown and helped them race out to an insurmountable lead in the dog days of summer . The team suffered an unbelievable two career-ending injuries this year, as Brandon Waddell and Joe Martin retired following a torn UCL and torn labrum, respectively. Bullpen workhorse Yale Ziegler will be out for the first two games, but could return to spell a relief crew that’s likely going to have some work to do against the Brewers.
The Braves sport a 1-4 rotation that’s been tremendously effective. Pat Cypert had a terrible regular season against the Brewers, but he came up clutch in the NLDS against the Giants. Mark Eberle has had similar problems against Milwaukee, but this Atlanta team has been tested all season long. The bullpen is banged up and, as a result, some inexperienced arms have gotten the call, but the guys who are there are generally rock solid. Closer Brian Villeneuve led the league in saves, but also is prone to blowups.
The bats Atlanta faces are impressive. The Brew Crew was second in the NL in runs scored, and Milwaukee has taken advantage of a weak division to perfect its matchup-heavy lineups. Greg Jacks, Mike Perches, Rodolfo Rivera and rookie Nick Rollins can do serious damage to any pitcher, and home run-prone knuckler Mark Eberle needs to be effective if Atlanta doesn’t want to fall into an early hole. Top-to-bottom, the Brewers trot out talent that’s above league average. There’s hardly anywhere a pitcher can let up, and even Atlanta’s top-flight starters will have to stay focused to win.
Braves hitting versus Brewers pitching
On paper, this is the difference maker. Brewers pitchers have been even better than the Braves, and the Braves’ offense has been offensive in the wrong way for clumps of games.
Milwaukee’s pitching is relentless. Hawkeye Arnold, Branden Andexler and Tim Kierstad could all lead a rotation. Holden Christian is a 2/3 starter in the no. 4 spot. Importantly, he eats up innings and doesn’t tax the bullpen. While injuries have touched both Arnold and Kierstad, they can go deep into games when healthy. In the bullpen, Josh Blystone has the most saves, but his 17 closeouts represent just 40 percent of the Brewers’ total saves. Blayne Enlow is the weakest of the bunch, but can notch a key strikeout when needed. Five lefties, four righties…it’s just ugly. Or glorious.
The Braves’ Juan Gestoso may be the league’s best all-around player as well as a dead ringer for Dave Roberts. He stepped up with perfectly timed power in the NLDS and he’ll need to do the same while still trying to be the disruptive force he can be on the basepaths. He led the league in walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases. That’s a terrifying combo for Philadelphia. Or, you know, anyone else.
Injuries are once again a factor for the Braves, who have been without 2B Shane Shifflett since early September. Previously a replacement-level infielder, Shifflett had a career year. The bigger problem will be replacing Steve Goode, who went down in the NLDS with a thumb sprain. The Braves are not a power-focused team, and now Atlanta will be without a cleanup hitter for the series. Goode has been a plus defender in right field, so this one hurts. It seems likely that fourth outfielder Joerline De Los Santos will slot into left and Ian Happ will move over to right, leaving Art Winkler to patrol center field (for Germans and fly balls).
Key questions:
For Luke Grimmelbein
- You’ve spent all year (or the past three) getting this team where you want it. Anything you plan to touch before the first pitch?
- Do you plan to bring back Weatherwax or make any other changes to your NLDS squad?
- How do you feel about Will Dulihanty’s work with Luis Rivera out? Is it hard to not have a Rivera at first sometimes?
For Jim Leesch
- How will you shuffle your lineup to minimize Steve Goode’s absence?
- Have you given any thought to bumping up Nate Capriglione in your rotation? He’s given up half the homers Eberle has and has arguably been your best pitcher.
- You have some options with call-ups to replace guys who have been injured. Any surprises in store?
Prediction: Despite stunning stumbles for Milwaukee, this is their year. A depleted Braves squad will do all it can to stop them, but the Brewers triumph, 4-2.
