2019 NLCS Preview - Colorado vs. Los Angeles
Sept 3, 2018 10:17:40 GMT -5
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Post by Grubs - Philly on Sept 3, 2018 10:17:40 GMT -5
Colorado Rockies (89-73) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (102-60)
The road to the PBA World Series runs through the NL West this year. Both the Dodgers and Rockies dispatched their competition in six games, with the Dodgers powering their way past Washington and the Rockies using guile and straight-up witchcraft to run the Cubs from the playoffs. On the year, the Dodgers took 12 of 19 games from Rockies.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are the PBA's first-ever wild card team to advance as far as the LCS. Don't let that stat fool you, though, as the team finished 16 games above .500 and just a win shy of 90. Charlie Blackmon smacked three round-trippers in the LDS, earning MVP honors for the series despite just six hits. The Rockies didn't hit well at all, but when they did, it counted. Ask anyone how much that matters in the playoffs (like, for example, the Cubs).
On the season, the Rockies' offensive numbers were as gaudy as could be expected. Nolan Arenado mashed 46 home runs and was clutch, driving in 137. Charlie Blackmon had not just a strong division series, but a solid year, with 35 homers and 100 runs. Knee tendinitis flared up during the LDS, though, and he'll miss at least the first couple games of this tilt. Counteracting that loss, to some extent, is a healthy David Dahl. When he's around, he hits and runs, with a 4.3 WAR despite playing just 118 games this year. Raimel Tapia is ready for stardom, and this could be the breakout series he needs to convince the rest of the league of that.
On the bump, the Rockies look, well, unimpressive. But OOTP is all about the Coors Field Effect, and the relief core has been absolutely dominant away from home. Witness Greg Holland, whose 8.27 ERA at Coors makes you want to punch your mother. Away from the Mile High City, he has a 1.88 ERA. So it goes. The Dodgers have the home field advantage this series, but a healthy Michael Fulmer and a clutch Chi Chi Gonzalez to complement that bullpen strength could keep the Rocks in the series...or be the recipe for another stunner.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers won 102 games for the second season out of the last three on the back of power that makes the Hoover Dam jealous. The Chavez Ravine Wrecking MachineTM hit a jaw-dropping 15 home runs in the six games of the LDS. Alex Verdugo earned MVP honors, coming just a hit shy of batting .500 for the series. The formula for LA remains the same as in the division series: Put runners on base and drive them in, and bail out to the bullpen
Verdugo, Nomar Mazara, Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger power the offense, which looks to lock in baserunners with AJ Pollock, Jurickson Profar and Justin Turner batting in key spots. Only catcher and second base are weak positions. Pederson and Bellinger had rotten LDS numbers, hitting a combined .116 over 43 AB, with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. They'll need to step it up for the Dodgers to maintain control of the series.
Los Angeles has the clear pitching advantage, with a lights-out Clayton Kershaw throwing 14.1 innings of shutout ball against Washington. Gio Gonzalez was good enough to be a no. 1 starter in the series, if not for playing on the same team as Kershaw. LA's bullpen faltered a little, but got six terrific innings from fireman Mike Caldwell, who didn't allow a run. Nor did Ross Stripling, who was the weak link during the regular season, but picked up his game to counteract an awful series by Kenley Jansen. Julio Urias gave the Dodgers five solid innings, but couldn't match Max Scherzer, who for some reason pitched only Game 4 in the LDS.
The Dodgers have a 4.50 ERA at Coors Field this year, but the Rockies have a 5.67 ERA against LA in Denver.
Keys for the Rockies
Keys for the Dodgers
Prediction
If the season record is any indication, it'll be the Dodgers in six. This feels tighter, though. LA in seven.
The road to the PBA World Series runs through the NL West this year. Both the Dodgers and Rockies dispatched their competition in six games, with the Dodgers powering their way past Washington and the Rockies using guile and straight-up witchcraft to run the Cubs from the playoffs. On the year, the Dodgers took 12 of 19 games from Rockies.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are the PBA's first-ever wild card team to advance as far as the LCS. Don't let that stat fool you, though, as the team finished 16 games above .500 and just a win shy of 90. Charlie Blackmon smacked three round-trippers in the LDS, earning MVP honors for the series despite just six hits. The Rockies didn't hit well at all, but when they did, it counted. Ask anyone how much that matters in the playoffs (like, for example, the Cubs).
On the season, the Rockies' offensive numbers were as gaudy as could be expected. Nolan Arenado mashed 46 home runs and was clutch, driving in 137. Charlie Blackmon had not just a strong division series, but a solid year, with 35 homers and 100 runs. Knee tendinitis flared up during the LDS, though, and he'll miss at least the first couple games of this tilt. Counteracting that loss, to some extent, is a healthy David Dahl. When he's around, he hits and runs, with a 4.3 WAR despite playing just 118 games this year. Raimel Tapia is ready for stardom, and this could be the breakout series he needs to convince the rest of the league of that.
On the bump, the Rockies look, well, unimpressive. But OOTP is all about the Coors Field Effect, and the relief core has been absolutely dominant away from home. Witness Greg Holland, whose 8.27 ERA at Coors makes you want to punch your mother. Away from the Mile High City, he has a 1.88 ERA. So it goes. The Dodgers have the home field advantage this series, but a healthy Michael Fulmer and a clutch Chi Chi Gonzalez to complement that bullpen strength could keep the Rocks in the series...or be the recipe for another stunner.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers won 102 games for the second season out of the last three on the back of power that makes the Hoover Dam jealous. The Chavez Ravine Wrecking MachineTM hit a jaw-dropping 15 home runs in the six games of the LDS. Alex Verdugo earned MVP honors, coming just a hit shy of batting .500 for the series. The formula for LA remains the same as in the division series: Put runners on base and drive them in, and bail out to the bullpen
Verdugo, Nomar Mazara, Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger power the offense, which looks to lock in baserunners with AJ Pollock, Jurickson Profar and Justin Turner batting in key spots. Only catcher and second base are weak positions. Pederson and Bellinger had rotten LDS numbers, hitting a combined .116 over 43 AB, with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. They'll need to step it up for the Dodgers to maintain control of the series.
Los Angeles has the clear pitching advantage, with a lights-out Clayton Kershaw throwing 14.1 innings of shutout ball against Washington. Gio Gonzalez was good enough to be a no. 1 starter in the series, if not for playing on the same team as Kershaw. LA's bullpen faltered a little, but got six terrific innings from fireman Mike Caldwell, who didn't allow a run. Nor did Ross Stripling, who was the weak link during the regular season, but picked up his game to counteract an awful series by Kenley Jansen. Julio Urias gave the Dodgers five solid innings, but couldn't match Max Scherzer, who for some reason pitched only Game 4 in the LDS.
The Dodgers have a 4.50 ERA at Coors Field this year, but the Rockies have a 5.67 ERA against LA in Denver.
Keys for the Rockies
- Raimel Tapia. With Blackmon likely out at least two games, it's his time.
- Charlie Blackmon. The Rockies have to beat LA on offense, and they need their table setter.
- Chi Chi Gonzalez. If he can continue to throw clutch innings, the Rockies might surprise.
Keys for the Dodgers
- 1-2 punch. Kershaw and Gio Gonzalez could give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead that will be hard to top.
- AJ Pollock and Jurickson Profar. They looked solid in the division series; they need to be good, if not great.
- The bullpen is mightier. LA needs to lock it down behind more middling starters in games three and four in the high country.
Prediction
If the season record is any indication, it'll be the Dodgers in six. This feels tighter, though. LA in seven.
