The Miller/Coors saga moves from the brewery to the baseball diamond for the 2018 MLB Playoffs as the Milwaukee Brewers are set to host the Colorado Rockies in a best-of-five National League Division Series (NLDS) starting October 4.
Based on recent power rankings, the best MLB teams play in the American League (AL). The National League (NL) is wide open and creates an atmosphere in the MLB Playoffs that puts every team in contention to make a serious World Series push in 2018.
The 2016 Champion Chicago Cubs fell to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, Oct. 1, thereby losing the 2018 NL Central title and setting up a Wild Card Game with the Colorado Rockies. A grueling 13-inning victory for the Rockies set up the NLDS showdown with Milwaukee in the NLDS portion of the MLB Playoffs.
The Brewers should be well-rested and carrying momentum following their pursuit and conquering of the Chicago Cubs.
Milwaukee made up five games in the NL Central standings during September to win the Division. But, the Brewers had several Thursdays off during their run towards the MLB Playoffs. Furthermore, Milwaukee earned the opportunity to rest their roster from Monday to Thursday by beating the Cubs.
On the other hand, the Colorado Rockies lost their game 163 and emptied much of their bullpen overcoming the Cubs in the 13-inning Wild Card Game. The Rockies flew from Denver on Sunday to Los Angeles on Monday to Chicago for a game on Tuesday and will roll into Milwaukee in time for the NLDS on Thursday.
The Rockies and Brewers carry momentum and Cinderella status into the 2018 MLB Playoffs.
The Brewers ride an eight-game winning streak into the MLB Playoffs. Plus, they feature the hottest hitter in baseball, Christian Yelich
Furthermore, the Miller Park crowd in Milwaukee will be especially loud after Yelich challenged them to help the team out in his article for the Players Tribune. And, the Brewers organization would love to bring a title home for living legend and pride of the Brewers, Bob Uecker, while he is still in the radio booth.
Uecker seems to have a special connection to this Brewers team and it would be good for baseball, not just Milwaukee, for Ueck to add a Brewers World Series ring to his Hall of Fame ring.
"“The friendship with these guys,” Uecker choked out with all the passion he could muster. “They treat me like a player!”"
But, the Rockies will be a tough matchup. They are also looking for a first World Series title. They might not have a history dating back to 1970 like the Brewers, but they would love to step out from the shadows of the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
During the regular season, the Brewers won five of seven meetings. But, a roster breakdown shows two pretty equal teams on paper.