For the Brewers, Chase Field Is the Perfect Place to Get Hot

Since 2007, excluding a horrendous showing in the 2011 postseason, the Brewers have found success at Chase Field, winning 12 of 18

games at the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. For Arizona, home field advantage has been present in the five seasons, posting a .556 win percentage over the span, including two 50-win seasons in 2007 and 2011.

Against the Brewers, however, that winning percentage drops to .333 over the last five seasons. And no time would be more perfect for Milwaukee’s pitching and bats to catch fire than in the scorching Arizona heat.

Among the 12 victories include a 17-run outbreak that inexplicably included a Jody Gerut cycle and offensive outputs of seven, eight, and nine runs on separate occasions.

Yovani Gallardo and Randy Wolf, scheduled to start Friday and Sunday, respectively, have both pitched well at Chase Field. Gallardo, in three starts, is 3-0 with a 1.59 era and 22 strikeouts in 17 innings and Wolf holds a 7-2 record, 3.43 era, and 1.177 WHIP in nine career starts at the site of the 2011 MLB All Star Game. With Zack Greinke (5-1, 2.70) scheduled to start on Saturday, the pitching matchups are set up favorably for Milwaukee.

Following an eight-run outburst against Barry Zito and the Giants as a part of a 8-5 victory on Tuesday, the hitter-friendly Chase Field would be a great place for the bats to post consistent numbers–something yet to be seen this season. After the 18-run showing on Sunday against Minnesota, the offense scuffled outside of a Ryan Braun homer in Monday’s 14-inning loss and sputtered mightily with runners in scoring position against Matt Cain the next night before the eight-run game Wednesday. Three solid games of four, five, six runs against the Diamondbacks could change the tides for the offense.

“I still feel that we’re really good,” said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.

Here’s to hoping Milwaukee can back their skipper’s confidence in the Arizona sun.