After several months of the regular season, today is finally when things get serious in the MLB, with the series officially getting underway in a few hours.
Yesterday, colleagues Charles-Alexis Brisebois, Sébastien Berrouard and Francis Rochon set the table for three series that we can follow this week, and it is now my turn to talk to you about the last one, the duel between the Diamondbacks and the Brewers.
On the one hand, the young representatives of Arizona may have slowed down after being at the top of their division in the first half of the season, but Corbin Carroll and his gang want to demonstrate that the future is now at the DBacks.
On the other hand, the Brewers enter the playoffs this year a bit like every year: a little tasteless and with obvious red flags, but with elements that make them a real threat.
In the regular season, the Brewers won 92 games, while the Diamondbacks only won 84. But in a series of three games, we agree that that doesn’t mean much.
Note also that all matches in the series will be broadcast at prime time, i.e. at 7:08 p.m.
Starting pitchers
If there’s anything that characterizes the Brewers every year, it’s the excellence of their pitching staff, and once again this year, the club is equipped to stay up late.
Corbin Burnes will get the start tonight and Freddy Peralta should be the go-to man for Game #2. For a possible third game, Brandon Woodruff would be a quality option, but he is injured. His series are compromised.
On the Diamondbacks side, it’s a little more complicated. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are a very solid starting duo, but they were forced to pitch late in the week.
It is therefore the young Brandon Pfaadt who will have the ball to start the first match, while Gallen will follow him. Kelly will be available for the third match, if necessary.
Overall, the Brewers have the advantage because of their depth, but if Pfaadt can get the opener, Gallen and Kelly will give the Diamondbacks a good chance to win.
Relievers
Just like for the starting pitchers, history repeats itself a bit for the two clubs in relief.
True to form, the Brewers are banking on an electrifying group of relievers. Josh Hader is no longer there, but Devin Williams is possibly the best closer in the league, and around him, there is no shortage of quality options: Joel Payamps, Bryse Wilson, Holby Milner, Abner Uribe and Andrew Chafin are all good pitchers.
On the Diamondbacks side, we are counting on an excellent specialist to close the books in Paul Sewald, acquired at the last trade deadline. That said, it’s less solid afterwards: Kevin Ginkel, Miguel Castro and Ryan Thompson are, at best, questionable options.
The Brewers have a fairly considerable advantage at the relief level, but if the DBacks can give Sewald a lead in the ninth, they will be in a good position.
Hitters
This time, it’s the Diamondbacks who have the advantage. Obviously, the highlight of the lineup is young sensation Corbin Carroll, who will easily win the title of rookie of the year in the National.
He is a good hitter, but above all he is a constant threat on the trails. Clearly, he will be the player to watch.
On the other hand, Carroll is not the only Diamondbacks player who could give the Brewers headaches. Veteran Christian Walker is an excellent hitter, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno have made Daulton Varsho forget, Ketel Marte has regained momentum and Tommy Pham has brought a spark since the trade deadline.
Youngsters Alek Thomas, Geraldo Perdomo and Jake McCarthy could also have an impact.
On the Brewers side, there are a lot more question marks. Christian Yelich and William Contreras are the big names, and Willy Adames has shown some great things, but otherwise, we’re banking on fairly old veterans and young people who haven’t proven much.
Carlos Santana, Mark Cahna and Josh Donaldson are no longer in their prime, while Sal Frelick and Brice Turang don’t have a lot of experience.
As every year, therefore, the Brewers’ alignment is a little suspect, and this is what risks holding the club back once again. The Diamondbacks have a pretty clear advantage in hitting.
Defensive
The Diamondbacks have a young team, and while experience may be lacking, the youth athleticism provides solid defense all around.
In the outfield, Tommy Pham, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll form a very solid trio of outfielders. The infield defense isn’t bad, and Gabriel Moreno does the job behind the plate.
For the Brewers, the emergence of William Contreras as an excellent defensive catcher has been good, but there are still question marks. Christian Yelich isn’t a great defensive player, and the rest of the outfield doesn’t inspire confidence.
The good Josh Donaldson is still capable of playing well defensively… and that’s lucky, because that’s pretty much all he has left.
Managers
For several years, Craig Counsell has had a good reputation as a manager. He is not afraid to be creative with his lineup and with his pitchers, and it is not for nothing that he is coveted by other clubs.
Torey Lovullo has a more mixed track record. Even though he’s had success with his young roster this year, the Diamondbacks fan base would like to have his head on a stake as soon as possible.
He’s probably not that bad, but the advantage clearly goes to the Brewers.
Imponderables
The Brewers may not have made much progress in the playoffs in recent years, but the club clearly has more experience than the young Diamondbacks for fall baseball.
The Diamondbacks are in the playoffs for the first time since 2017, while the Brewers have punched their ticket to the playoffs every year since 2018, excluding last season. In terms of experience, we are talking about two different worlds.
The Wisconsin team has a 49-32 record at home this season, which could give them a nice advantage. On the other hand, the DBacks have a good record on the road, having won 41 of their 81 games away from home.
This season, the Diamondbacks became the Answerbacks due to the club’s ease of recovering from deficits. They may be young, but they have character to spare.
The two teams will compete for the right to face the powerful Dodgers in the division series. We should expect some good action between these two small market clubs this week, and the winner will then stick their nose in the big market of Los Angeles.
