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Milwaukee Brewers play their first postseason game since 1982 this evening when they open the best-of-five National League Division Series against the
Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Ironically, the turning point of the Brewers' season may have come following their last visit to Philadelphia. After a four-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies from September 12-14, the team fired manager Ned Yost, replacing him with Dale Sveum.
Milwaukee then overcame a two-game deficit in the final week of the season to win the National League Wild Card, backed by the incredible CC Sabathia, who went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA and seven complete games (three shutouts) in 17 starts since joining the club in a deal with the Cleveland Indians in July.
Sabathia has pitched on short rest in each of his last three starts, including Sunday's brilliant complete game effort to launch Milwaukee into the postseason for the first time since "Harvey's Wallbangers" fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games of the 1982 World Series.
The American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner, Sabathia, will again pitch on short rest, as he will start Game Two of this series, so he would be ready to go on full rest should a deciding fifth game be necessary.
Milwaukee will hand the ball to 22-year-old right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who will be making just his second appearance since ACL surgery in May. Gallardo returned on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and held them to a run and three hits in four innings.
Gallardo, who was 1-1 in four starts this season with a 1.88 ERA, defeated the Phillies the only other time he faced them, surrendering a run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, while striking out seven with a walk.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, had another September to remember and fended off the New York Mets once again to capture its second straight National League East title. Hopefully this postseason visit lasts a little longer than last year's stay, as Charlie Manuel's ballclub ran into a red-hot Colorado Rockies team that took the league by storm, as they swept the Phils en route to a National League pennant.
The Phillies, who went 17-8 in the month, reached the 90-win mark this season for the first time since the National League champion squad of 1993 recorded 97 victories. The last time Philadelphia won back-to-back division titles was the 1980-81 campaigns. The Phillies are in the playoffs for only the third time since the 1993 season.
Ryan Howard was a big reason behind the Phils' ascent to the top of the East, as the 2006 MVP batted .352 (31-88) with seven doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 32 RBI and 26 runs scored in September. He also posted a slugging percentage of .852 and an on-base percentage of .422 during the month.
The Phillies may need a big day at the plate from Howard, as outfielder Pat Burrell is uncertain for today's contest after hurting his back during Tuesday's workout. He hit .250 with 33 home runs and 86 RBI this season.
Philadelphia will pin its hopes today on lefty Cole Hamels, who was 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA. Hamels was strong for the Phillies down the stretch, pitching to a 2.42 ERA over his final 10 starts (5-3).
One of those wins came against the Brewers on September 13, as he gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He is 2-1 lifetime against Milwaukee with a 4.41 ERA in five starts.
Hamels was charged with the loss in Game One of last year's NLDS against the Rockies.
Of the eight teams in the playoffs, only Milwaukee has gone longer without a postseason win than the Phillies, who last won a playoff game in 1993. Tampa, of course, is in the postseason for the first time in team history, but has only been in existence since 1998.
The Phillies won five of their six matchups with the Brewers this season.
