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MLB NLDS Series Preview - Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
With the 2009 MLB regular season over, the real fireworks are set to begin when the Philadelphia Phillies (93-68 SU, 82-78 RL, 71-82-7 O/U) and the Colorado Rockies (92-70 SU, 85-76 RL, 72-80-9 O/U) square off in what promises to be an absolutely thrilling NLDS opening round matchup beginning on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park at 2:30 PM ET.
This comprehensive preview and in-depth look at both teams will give avid MLB betting enthusiasts all of the pertinent information they need to make a the right wagers throughout the entirety of this series.
With that in mind and the start of this series just a day away, let’s get started.
Phillies
Led by their prolific offense, the Phillies ranked fourth overall and led the National League in scoring this season, averaging 5.1 runs per game while batting a collective .258, ninth in the NL.
Philadelphia had four players (Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins) score at least 100 runs for the first time since 1932 and will be trying to become the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three consecutive World Series titles from 1998-2000. They will also be the first National league team to turn the trick since the Cincinnati Reds’ famed ‘Big Red Machine’ won back-to-back titles in 1975-76.
Rockies
Colorado ranked second in scoring in the NL and tied for fifth overall, averaging 5.0 runs per contest while batting a collective .261. The Rockies were the only team in the majors this season to have at least five 10-game winners. Colorado also ranked second to Philadelphia in the NL in hits per game, averaging 8.7 hits per contest while tying the Yankees for the Major League lead in walks per game (4.1). They also ranked second the majors in strikeouts per game, averaging a whopping 7.9 per contest.
Offense
Not many teams in all of baseball can match Philadelphia’s offensive prowess, but the Rockies certainly come close.
Philadelphia has four players hit at least 30 home runs and drive in at least 90 runs (Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Jason Werth) led by Howard’s 45 home runs and 141 RBI. Philadelphia ranked second overall and first in the National League in team home runs, bashing a whopping 224
Colorado smacked 190 team home runs to rank second (again) to Philadelphia in the NL and seventh in all of baseball. The Rockies had just one player, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, top the 30-home run mark (32) but saw three other players reach or surpass 25 home runs (Ian Stewart, Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes). Tulowitzki drove in 93 runs while Hawpe added 88 RBI and Barmes and Stewart added 78 and 70 RBI respectively.
Edge: Philadelphia
Defense
Both teams allowed an identical 4.4 runs per game defensively while Philadelphia gave up an average of 9.1 hits per game compared to Colorado’s 8.8-hit per game average. The Rockies issued an average of 3.3 walks per contest while Philadelphia averaged 3.0 bases on balls per contest. Both teams also averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game during the regular season.
Edge: Even
Starting Pitching
Again, MLB sports betting members, these two teams aver very evenly matched as Philadelphia compiled a 4.15 team ERA compared to Colorado’s 4.24 team ERA.
Opposing hitters batted .247 against Philadelphia and .261 against the Rockies while compiling an identical .329 on-base percentage against both ballclubs.
Colorado was the majors’ only team to have at least five 10-win starters, but Philadelphia didn’t do too shabby in the pitching department this season. Three starters (J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer) recorded at least 12 wins, not including the team’s top two starters, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, though Lee recorded half of his 14 regular season wins as a Philly after getting traded from the Indians during the annual trade deadline period. Happ, a rookie southpaw, complied a fantastic 2.93 ERA in 35 games and 24 starts while Lee recorded a solid 3.39 ERA.
The good news for Colorado is the fact that they had one 16-game winner (Jorge De La Rosa) and two 15-game winners (Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis). However, the team saw only one starter (Jimenez) compile an ERA under 4.00 as Jimenez recorded a 3.47 ERA and every double digit winner had an ERA of at least 4.04.
Edge: Philadelphia
Bullpen
A problem area for Colorado could be its uninspiring bullpen. Philadelphia’s bullpen recorded a collective 3.90 ERA (13th) this season while Colorado’s relievers ranked 24th overall in ERA by recording a 4.51 ERA.
Philadelphia’s relievers went 28-23 and held opposing hitters to a .245 batting average during the regular season while Colorado’s relief pitchers went 23-20 and allowed opposing hitters to put up a .270 batting average. Philadelphia’s bullpen allowed 46 home runs but struck out 223 hitters while Colorado’s bullpen gave up 52 home runs while striking out just 177 batters.
Edge: Philadelphia
Analysis: While the Phillies may have potential problems closing out ballgames as closer Brad Lidge has struggled mightily this season, I fully believe Philadelphia’s starting pitching – and heavy hitting – will carry them to victory, at least in this series.
If Cole Hamels can regain the dominant form he showed throughout the postseason, en route to being named the 2008 World Series MVP – and Cliff Lee throws the ball like he did in winning the 2008 AL Cy Young, Philadelphia will be hard to beat and not just for the Rockies.
While counting out the feisty Rockies would be foolish as they are one of the most competitive teams in all of baseball, I just don’t think they’ll be able to outscore or out-pitch a Phillies team that knows exactly what it takes to win a World Series title after going the distance last season.
With Philadelphia having won the regular season series 4-2 and being statistically better in almost every pertinent offensive and defensive statistical category – and having home field advantage in this series, the smart money says play the Phillies for the Series win in the BetUS MLB sports book.
MLB Divisional Series Odds
Colorado Rockies +135
Philadelphia Phillies -165
Prediction: Philadelphia in 5
Philadelphia is +225 to win the NL Pennant in the BetUS MLB sportsbook while the Rockies are +375 to win the NL Pennant.
