NLCS Preview: A Rivalry Renewed

After one of the most exciting first rounds in recent memory with three decisive Game 5's, it's on to the League Championship Series with some of baseball's most historic franchise's.


St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers:
Two teams that have created one of the most interesting rivalries in the game today are set to square off with a trip to the World Series on the line. The Cardinals have been there as recently as 2006 when they defeated the Detroit Tigers in five games. Milwaukee has been represented the National League in the Fall Classic. Their only World Series appearance came in 1982 as a member of the American League and AL East. This two division rivals spilt the season series nine games apiece with this best-of-seven certainly going to be the tiebreak.

St. Louis heads into the series as a team that is not even suppose to be here. Their improbable run to even get into this year's postseason saw them tie a NL record. Eight and a half games behind the Atlanta Braves at the start of September, the Cardinals overcome the deficit and got into the postseason on the final day of the regular season much like the San Francisco Giants a year ago, they went on to win the whole thing.

A lot of St. Louis' series success will depend
on the health of Holliday

The red birds upset the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies in an epic five game series that saw one of the greatest pitching duels in postseason history. Chris Carpenter outdueled his former teammate Roy Halladay with a three-hit shutout on the road.


Tony La Russa's squad will need to continued and pitch well against another high powered offense in Milwaukee if they are to achieve their World Series aspirations. Left-hander Jaime Garica has been tabbed as La Russa's Game 1 starter at Miller Park.

Their bullpen was a key component as to why to the Cards are at this point in the season. Mixing and matching most of the NLDS, La Russa will need his pen to continue and outplay expectations if they want to have a chance against this Brewers club.

The real key to the series could be the health of left fielder Matt Holliday. The slugger did not start the first three games of the NLDS due to a finger injury, but it was his presence in games four and five that helped an ailing St, Louis offense. After scoring the most runs in the NL (762) this season, the Cards were a different offense without Holliday in their lineup and need him to play to be successful.

The hard-nosed Skip Schumaker, who batted .600 during the NLDS, will be left on the LCS roster after sustaining an oblique injury.

Albert Pujols batted .350 in the first round, but did not hit a home run and had only one RBI. He will need Lance Berkman, who batted .167 in the NLDS, to get going if they Pujols wants to make what could be his final postseason run in St. Louis a memorable one.

In Wisconsin, Brewer fans are coming off one of the most exciting moments in the franchises history. Their sometimes outspoken center fielder, Nyer Morgan, singled home the speedy Carlos Gomez in the bottom of the tenth inning to send Milwaukee to the NLCS and it will be their offense again that is the key to their success in the series.

The best three-four punch in the majors with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder combined to bat .389 in the NLDS with two home runs and seven RBIs. Braun alone batted .500 going 9-for-18 in the series while playing a quality left field. He will need to continue and showcase his skills on October's biggest stage and show why is a perennial MVP candidate every year.

It was Cory Hart who really torched the Cardinals during the regular season with five home runs and 15 RBIs.

The acquisition of Jerry Hairston Jr. loomed large for first year manager Ron Roencike against Arizona. Hairston drove in three runs of his own in the first round with eight total bases and a .375 average. The veteran only got a chance to play due to the inconsistent play of their Opening Dat third baseman, Casey McGeehee.

Greinke will need to pitch better if he wants
to continue his first postseason run.

Yovani Gallardo was great in his two starts against the Diamondbacks, but NLCS Game 1 starter Zack Greinke, who was 11-0 at home during the regular season, did not pitch well in his only start of the series at Miller Park. They will need a big series from their talented right-hander especially after he called out the Cards'  ace Carpenter, calling his attitude sometimes phony.

Greinke could potenitally throw three games in this series, but it's highly unlikely. It will be the back end of the rotation of Shawn Marcum and Randy Wolf that needs to show up for the Brewers after two terrible outings on the road in Arizona.

As for Roenicke's bullpen, that continues to be a non-issue despite the recent blown save of closer John Axford. Francisco Rodriguez, who will be a free agent at seasons end, is auditioning for a closing job after being traded to Milwaukee mid-season and thrust back into his former role as a set-up man.

Emotions will be running high with a lot on the line and a baggage full of history. One thing is for sure, these two teams simply do not like one another and it will show on the diamond.

STL X-Factor: Matt Holliday


MIL X-Factor: Zack Greinke


St. Louis in Six.