Colorado @ Milwaukee preview
Miller Park
Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2013 ) Milwaukee 6, Colorado 2
The Milwaukee Brewers expected to mount a strong defense of their National League Central crown last season based on pitching strength, only to see their hopes compromised by ineffectiveness and change. Yovani Gallardo will attempt to reverse last year’s misfortunes starting Monday when the Brewers host the Colorado Rockies. In 2011, Milwaukee boasted a 3.63 ERA - ninth-best in the majors - as five pitchers accounted for 155 of the Milwaukee’s 162 starts. However, the Brewers’ 4.22 ERA last season ranked 22nd in the majors as 11 different pitchers started at least one game.
As much as Milwaukee’s pitching struggled, it paled in comparison to the woes of the Rockies, who posted a 5.22 ERA – the worst in the majors by .44 runs. Those struggles were due in no small part to the lack of an established staff ace and 14 different pitchers making at least two starts. New manager Walt Weiss will hope to turn around last year’s franchise-worst 64-98 record beginning with Jhoulys Chacin, who missed more than three months with a nerve disorder.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (2012: 3-5, 4.43 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (16-9, 3.66)
Upon his return Aug. 21, Chacin went 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA over his final nine starts. The Rockies need a strong presence atop their rotation since No. 2 starter Jorge De La Rosa made only three September starts after Tommy John surgery and newly signed No. 3 starter Jon Garland missed all of last season following shoulder surgery. Chacin, who has yet to register a decision against Milwaukee in two career starts, has baffled Ryan Braun (0-for-5, three strikeouts) but struggled against Aramis Ramirez (5-for-12).
Despite surrendering 20 of his 26 home runs at Miller Park in 2012, Gallardo somehow managed to go 9-4 with a 3.72 ERA at home. The 27-year-old native of Michoacan, Mexico, has a career record of 39-19 at Miller Park, but has posted a 4.14 ERA in 22 career April starts – his second-worst mark of any month. Gallardo finished in a tie for second with 25 quality starts in 2012, but is 0-4 with a 5.82 ERA against the Rockies in eight career appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado and Milwaukee became the fifth and sixth teams in major-league history to go a full season without a pitcher throwing a complete game.
2. The Rockies were the only NL team the Brewers failed to beat more than once in 2012.
3. Gallardo was the only Milwaukee pitcher to log more than 24 starts last season.
PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Rockies 3