October is upon us, and that can only mean one thing — the MLB playoffs have arrived. With both wild card races decided on the last day of the regular season, this year's matchups should make the 2010 playoffs as exciting as any in recent memory, as four squads in the National League look to take over the pennant from the San Francisco Giants.
Philadelphia Phillies (102-60) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72)
This is a classic David vs. Goliath series. The Philadelphia Phillies have been the best team in baseball all year while the St. Louis Cardinals barely snuck into the playoffs with a win on the last day of the season, after trailing the Atlanta Braves by 10.5 games in late August. The Cardinals, led by the experience of manager Tony La Russa and first baseman Albert Pujols, are looking to build on their late-season run and are certainly not afraid of the bright playoff lights.
Unfortunately, they are running into the Phillies, who have a starting rotation created for October. The four-headed monster — which consists of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt — has been unstoppable all year long, leading Philadelphia to the best record in baseball.
Halladay has proven himself as one of baseball's best pitchers this season with a 19-6 record and a 2.35 ERA, while Lee is demonstrating why he received a monster contract in the offseason with a 17-8 record this season. Even though their offensive production has been down this season with injuries to Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins, the mid-season acquisition of Hunter Pence from the Astros has made their lineup more dynamic.
Meanwhile, the Phillies' enhanced bullpen, with rookie Vance Worley, veteran setup man Brad Lidge and closer Ryan Madson, has succeeded all year in shortening games and shutting opponents down in the late innings.
Sadly, this may be La Russa and Pujols' last hurrah as members of the Cards. They will not likely be winning a World Series, and with both of their contracts expiring at the end of this season, it may be the end of an era of St. Louis dominance in the NL Central. It would not be surprising if the Phillies won in four, as the Cardinals will not likely be able to score enough runs against Philly's tough pitching staff.
Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66)
This series contains probably the two most surprising teams in the playoffs in 2011, as both were under .500 last season. But, this year, both squads have turned it around in a big way.
For the Diamondbacks, starting pitcher Ian Kennedy has emerged as a Cy Young candidate, going 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA. Previously a flameout with the Yankees, Kennedy has found top form in the confines of the desert, and will anchor the D-Backs staff heading into October. The Brewers also have an ace of their own, Zack Greinke, who has proven himself with a perfect 11-0 record at home this season in addition to a 3.13 ERA at Miller Park.
But in the end, this series will come down to the ability of the respective offenses to put runs on the board. Even though Arizona outfielder Justin Upton has shown he is an All-Star-caliber player, the team lacks other hitters who can score runs. The Brewers, on the other hand, with Ryan Braun — who has put up another MVP-like season — Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks, have the sluggers to score plenty of runs in the series.
In addition to this potent offense, Milwaukee has a solid back end of the rotation with Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf and Yovani Gallardo. Arizona's rotation is filled with young pitchers with substantial talent, but they have never pitched in October and will have a hard time stopping the Brewers' top hitters.
The Diamondbacks shocked the world with their one and only World Series win 10 years ago, but this year the same magic is not in the air. It appears that the Brewers are a dangerous team, ready to steamroll Arizona in three games.
The NLCS between the Brewers and Phillies will be a close series, but pitching will again dominate as the four Philadelphia starters may be too much for the Brewers to handle. The Phillies have been successful all year in close games where they limit their opponents' scoring and provide just enough offense to squeak out a win. The Brewers' staff is good, but to beat the Phillies, Milwaukee will require exceptional performances.
The Phillies are also seeking redemption for last year's NLCS loss to the eventual champion San Francisco Giants. By strengthening their pitching staff, the Phillies appear to be the best team in the National League, and in the end, they will return to the World Series and attempt to win their second championship in four years.
