MLB Playoff Predictions 2011: Why the Brewers Bats Will Batter Diamondbacks

The big moves paid off.

The Milwaukee Brewers gambled on the 2011 season by throwing big money at starting pitchers Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum.

Yet it’s the potent lineup that will be carrying this club to the relatively easy series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It’s no secret that 1B Prince Fielder is in the last year of his contract and has been putting up huge numbers (.299, 38 HR, 120 RBI). With the potential to earn even more dough with a big postseason, he’s going to be a very tough out, especially with the protection he has in front of him.

LF Ryan Braun can make a serious case for NL MVP and was a cheap Jose Reyes bunt single away from potentially winning a batting title. He is one of the most versatile hitters in the game and will be feasting on a Diamondbacks staff that is extremely inexperienced.

In eight at-bats against the D-Backs (injuries kept him out for the majority of their matchups), he cashed in with four hits, two homers and four RBI. In other words…he dominated when given the opportunity.

Combine the deadliest 3-4 hitters in the playoffs with fellow All-Star 2B Rickie Weeks, who has the speed to do some serious damage on the base paths, and the top of the order is going to give the D-Backs fits.

Weeks tailed off a bit towards the end of the season, but he remains one of the best top-of-the-order guys in all of baseball. SS Yuniesky Betancourt and RF Corey Hart make the bottom of the lineup quite potent as well.

Arizona has very little postseason experience and a rotation that doesn’t strike fear in opponents aside from Ian Kennedy.

The Diamondbacks were 4-3 this season against the Brew Crew, but they haven’t played since mid-July, before the Brewers caught absolute fire.

I expect the Brewers pitching staff to keep a potent Diamondbacks offense in check, and the Milwaukee offense will take care of the rest.

Betancourt is the unsung hero in a walk-off win that gives the Brew Crew a 3-1 series victory and a date with the Philadelphia Phillies.