The Milwaukee Brewers have swept the Colorado Rockies out of the NLDS, and have punched their ticket for the NLCS. How did this happen?
Despite having to travel to the thin air of Colorado, the Milwaukee Brewers kept the Colorado Rockies off the scoreboard in Game 3. Six Brewers pitchers held the Rockies to only four hits and two walks.
The Brewers offense pieced together six runs, and have swept the Rockies out of the playoffs. Why were the Brewers able to handle the Rockies so easily?
The Rockies offense disappeared
In 28 innings played against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Colorado Rockies only scored two runs, hit zero homers, and only slashed .154/.211/.185. Only Matt Holiday and Gerardo Parra posted an OPS over .600 in the NLDS, and they only combined for eight plate appearances.
Brewers pitching stepped up
Closer Jeremy Jeffress was the only Milwaukee Brewers pitcher to give a run, earned or otherwise, to the Colorado Rockies offense. Both of the runs allowed occurred in Game 1. He also picked up a save in Game 2, and appeared in Game 3. Every other Brewers starter or reliever has a 0.00 ERA heading into the NLCS.
Also, the Milwaukee Brewers recorded 84 outs in the three game series against the Colorado Rockies. 30 of them were recorded via the strikeout. They also only walked eight batters.
The Brewers offense was solid
Christian Yelich just keeps on showing everyone why he the best player in the National League. Yelich blasted a two-run homer to start the scoring in the series off for the Brewers, and he racked up six walks and four runs scored in the three game set.
Also, Mike Moustakas, Travis Shaw, Hernan Perez, and Erik Kratz all posted an OPS over .900 in the series.
The Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the NLCS for the third time in team history. They lost the series, 4-2, to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, and beat the then California Angels in 1982…to lose in seven games to the Cardinals. The good news is that the Cardinals aren’t waiting for the Brewers.
The 2018 National League Championship Series starts in Milwaukee on October 12th at a time currently listed as ‘TBD’, but the game should be in prime time.