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The Milwaukee Brewers have dropped the last two games to the New York Mets in a potential playoff preview as these teams would meet if the playoffs started today. Many Milwaukee fans are counting the games and cheering against the Chicago Cubs but the reality is that the Brewers are much better off staying in the Wild Card position then tracking down the Cubs to take the NL Central title. Milwaukee’s best chance to advance in a potential playoff series would be against the Mets or the Philadelphia Phillies rather than opening up against the Arizona Diamondbacks who the Cubs will likely face.

Even though Milwaukee is 5-1 against Arizona this season the Diamondbacks will be a dangerous team in the playoffs with the quality starting pitching they possess. Brandon Webb will be a Cy Young finalist this season with a 19-6 record and a 3.28 ERA and although Milwaukee got to Webb a bit earlier this season Arizona is 3-0 in the last three games he has pitched against Milwaukee. Most players on the Brewers have never faced Dan Haren and he has delivered an incredible season for Arizona with a 14-7 record and a 3.24 ERA. Arizona is 37-20 when those two pitchers start and they will be a dangerous 1-2 in the playoffs should the Diamondbacks hold on in the NL West.

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The Brewers have had success against Arizona’s third starter veteran Randy Johnson, but Johnson has an excellent playoff resume. Part of the reason Milwaukee has hit Johnson so well is because he is left-handed and Milwaukee has owned lefties this season, hitting .275. The Brewers are 31-15 against left-handed starters this season, the best in baseball, despite dropping the last two games against the Mets. Left-handers started both of those games but did not deliver wins for New York as the games were decided in the bullpen. Earlier in the year the Brewers beat Johan Santana and Oliver Perez and the Brewers would have to like their chances against the Mets pitching.

If the Phillies are able to pass the Mets in the standings it would be a favorable match-up for Milwaukee as well. Milwaukee beat lefty Cole Hamels earlier this season and Philadelphia also features left-hander Jamie Moyer as a potential playoff starter. Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton could also start for the Phillies but neither is as threatening as the group of starters that Arizona features. The Phillies have a much better bullpen than Arizona or New York but given the importance of starting pitching in the playoffs a series with Philadelphia would be welcomed.

Viewing the Cubs as the consensus top team in the National League, the Diamondbacks would also be the best candidate to oust Chicago from Milwaukee’s path. The Cubs are 4-2 against Arizona this season but they have not faced Webb and they were able to win a close game despite not getting much production against Haren. The Cubs struggled against Randy Johnson as they were unable to score on him in seven innings a few weeks ago. More importantly there are ugly playoff memories from last season for the Cubs as Arizona swept Chicago in three games. The Cubs are likely to have the home field edge this season but Webb dominated Chicago last year and with Haren and Johnson as the next two starters rather than Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez, Arizona will be a tough team to face in a short playoff series.

Although there is a certain prestige to winning the division title and home field advantage would certainly be preferable, the Brewers are likely better off staying right where they are in the standings if getting to the World Series is the ultimate goal. Home field advantage is certainly nice in a playoff series but the Brewers have been the best road team of the current playoff contenders in the National League. Barring injuries the Brewers also feature a great playoff rotation and with every team in the NL playoff mix being good against left-handed pitching the Brewers are better off being the team to face a lefty-heavy rotation from New York or Philadelphia rather than facing a playoff tested Arizona staff with a lethal right-handed 1-2 punch.