The road to the World Series begins in the National League on Wednesday with a pair of matchups. The Rockies and Phillies renew acquaintances after Colorado swept Philadelphia in the 2007 NLDS, while the Cardinals and Dodgers cap the night off at Chavez Ravine.
Rockies at Phillies - 2:35 PM EST
Two teams have won 72 games each since June 4, the Yankees and Rockies. Colorado seemed like a lost cause under Clint Hurdle, starting the season 20-32, and languishing near the bottom of the NL West. All of the sudden, the insertion of Jim Tracy to the managerial position helped jump-start the Rockies, giving them an opportunity to win the NL West division title the final weekend of the season.
The Rockies will settle for a Wild Card berth, as they take on the defending champion Phillies. Philadelphia certainly remembers the last time it faced Colorado in October, losing all three games to the Rockies in the 2007 NLDS. Colorado ended up winning the pennant, before getting swept by Boston in the World Series. Philadelphia rebounded with a World Series title in 2008, beating Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay en route to the team's first championship since 1980.
The Phillies will send out mid-season acquisition Cliff Lee (7-4, 3.39 ERA) to the mound in the series opener. The reigning AL Cy Young award winner started his run with the Phillies on fire, winning his first five decisions. Since an August 29 loss to the Braves, the lefty is 2-4, while allowing 27 ER in 39.2 innings of work. The last (and only) time Lee faced the Rockies was in early August, a 3-1 home victory. Lee scattered seven hits and one earned run in seven innings, while striking out nine.
Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47 ERA) may be one of the more under-appreciated starting pitchers in baseball, as the Rockies send out the 25-year old righty to the mound. Jimenez had more success pitching at Coors Field (10-5 team record) than on the road (7-11 team record). The biggest problem for Jimenez on the road was his lack of run support, as the Rockies averaged 3.17 runs/game in 18 away starts. Since the All-Star Break, Colorado is 11-4 in Jimenez's 15 outings, with 13 of those starts being quality ones.
The Phillies won four of six regular season meetings, and are 9-2 against Colorado since being bounced in the '07 NLDS.
Philadelphia is listed as a $1.30 home favorite, while the total is set at 8 (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'over), according to Sportsbook.com.
Cardinals at Dodgers - 9:35 PM EST
St. Louis pretty much cruised to the NL Central title, while Los Angeles needed to sew up the NL West on the final weekend of the season. The Dodgers still own the best record in the NL, finishing 95-67.
The Cardinals send out Cy Young Award frontrunner Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24 ERA) to the hill to claim the series opener. Carpenter has been a Dodger-slayer in his career, as the Redbirds are a perfect 6-0 in the righty's six career starts against L.A. In the two regular season matchups, Carpenter allowed 14 hits and three earned runs in 15 innings pitched, as St. Louis won both contests. Since the beginning of May, Carpenter has given up two earned runs or less in 18 starts, with the Cards going 14-4.
Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.28 ERA) owns just four victories at home this season, but L.A. is 13-5 in the southpaw's 18 starts at Chavez Ravine. Wolf was knocked around by the Cards at Busch Stadium in July, but still registered a quality start, tossing six innings of seven-hit ball, allowing two runs (Cards won, 6-1). Wolf has saved his best pitching for the end, with the Dodgers winning nine of his last 11 starts, but the two losses did come at home. The Cardinals are batting just .233 against left-handed pitching this season, which ranks last in baseball.
St. Louis won five of seven meetings this season against Los Angeles, including the Cards grabbing a pair of one-run decisions at Dodger Stadium in mid-August.
Sportsbook.com has listed the Cards as a $1.40 road 'chalk,' while the total is set at 8 (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
