MLB Betting – Diamondbacks vs Brewers Game 5 NLDS Preview & Pick
Even though the Diamondbacks have won two straight games entering Game 5 of the National League Division Series with Milwaukee, they have some major hurdles to overcome tonight.
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Date: Friday, October 7, 2011
Venue: Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
Broadcast: TBS
Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Diamondbacks +140, Brewers -150
Over/Under: 7.5
Arizona Diamondbacks (series tied 2-2)
Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.40)
The D-Backs looked great in Games 3 and 4 in Arizona, hitting grand slams in both games and watching as Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun went 3 for 23 over those contests.
But the series shifts back to Milwaukee tonight. The Brewers were a major-league best 57-24 there in the regular season and upped that mark to 59-24 by winning games 1 and 2.
Ian Kennedy, a 21-game winner this season, took the loss in Game 1. Kirk Gibson arguably left him in too long; Kennedy served up a two-run homer to Prince Fielder in the seventh inning. He’ll have to be better tonight but it’s a tall order. Weeks, Fielder and Braun are 10 for 22 at home in the playoffs.
Arizona has gotten amazing contributions from unlikely heroes Paul Goldschmidt (.455, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and Ryan Roberts (.375, 2 HR, 6 RBI) in this series but Justin Upton must step up tonight. The team’s best hitter is batting .188 in four games.
Milwaukee Brewers (series tied 2-2)
Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 1.12)
Despite the two straight losses, Milwaukee only has to keep on keepin’ on to win Game 5 tonight. Yovani Gallardo was masterful in Game 1, pitching eight innings of one-run ball and striking out nine. Including the regular season, that win extended his all-time record against Arizona to 6-0 (with a 1.18 ERA). He flat-out owns the Diamondbacks and it doesn’t appear that the trend will reverse anytime soon.
More good news for Milwaukee: its bullpen wasn’t the problem in Games 3 and 4. Starters Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf took the major damage. Milwaukee’s relievers have been more or less fine, so John Axford and company should be ready to help if Gallardo doesn’t go the distance. Zack Greinke also may make himself available out of the pen.
The pick:
I’m deploying the same strategy I did for Game 1. Gallardo and the Brewers have given us no reason not to pick them when they play at Miller Park. I have to believe they get the job done tonight.
Diamondbacks vs Brewers prediction: Brewers 5, Diamondbacks 2
Money Line: Brewers -150
Over/Under: UNDER 7.5
