2011 NLCS: Who Are the Underdogs?

The Milwaukee Brewers won the NL Central by winning 96 games whereas the Cardinals won the Wild Card with 90 games. 

Having home-field advantage certainly is expected to give you a slight edge, but can we really consider the Brewers the legitimate favorites to reach the World Series since they have only accomplished such a task only once in franchise history?

Let's breakdown the NLCS and discuss who really should be considered the favorites if there even is one.

Milwaukee Brewers

Fear the power of cheese as the Brew Crew are poised to make a push towards the World Series.

However, they have a fairly young team that has never been there before. They have NEVER, ever been to the World Series as a National League team before with their only appearance in 1982 when they were part of the American League.

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are a deadly combo of three-four hitters and the rest of the lineup is not slim pickings.

Anybody can hurt you in the lineup and because they can there is a great chance your starting pitcher does not make it past the sixth or seventh inning.

The Brewers often win bullpen battles with Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford closing things out in the eighth/ninth innings.

Milwaukee still has little to zero experience and despite having home-field advantage I can't consider them the favorites despite perhaps having more talent than the Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have gone to the World Series 17 times, winning 10 of them. Tony La Russa just went to the Series backs in 2006 where they defeated the Tigers in five games.

He has an experienced coaching staff led by pitching coach Dave Duncan and his players are legitimate veterans as well.

Lance Berkman played in the '05 World Series with Houston and Matt Holiday has had a few late season and postseason pushes as well.

Also, they have that Pujols guy who can flat out rake. The one under the radar player that gets the job done better than anybody at his position arguably because he is a gamer would have to be catcher Yadier Molina.

Both St. Louis and Milwaukee battled back and forth throughout the summer until the Brewers jumped out to a double digit lead in the division. Take note that experience clearly prevails as the Cardinals were able to sneak into the playoffs with a great choking performance put on by the Braves.

St. Louis has to be considered the favorites in my books because of the experience factor throughout the franchise, but that does not mean they will necessarily have the upper hand.

Prediction

This has the makings of an amazing series. This is not only a battle to show who really is the best team in the Midwest and the NL Central—this is way beyond that. A National League Pennant and a World Series championship is at stake and remember the NL gets home-field advantage in the World Series.

Weeks, Braun and Fielder against Pujols, Berkman and Holiday should be a treat. The rotations stack up evenly with Chris Carpenter throwing gem after gem. The Cardinals bullpen is fairly deep, but I question if they can hold a game or a lead in the ninth inning and beyond.

I love the way the season has gone for the Brewers as it has seemed like destiny from the early stages of the summer for them to get their chances at a World Series ring. 

BREWERS in 6