Colorado at Arizona

The Colarado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks open the NLCS tonight, and at the beginning of the season, neither were likely candidates to be here. The Rockies used a late season surge that has risen to 17-1 with their sweep of the Phillies. Arizona rode their strong pitching all season, and swept the Cubs to find their way to this series. Arizona has been a tough team all season at home. They have been 52-31 on the season, tops in the entire NL to their backers at +14.74 units, while the Rockies have posted a losing record on the road. One dynamic that fits well into this match-up is the Arizona attack, which has been much better at home, but has been lethal against LHP. The Arizona offense is best when combining a LHP with their home park. Jeff Francis has had a solid season for the Rockies, but with an era of over 4, he is certainly hittable. He has benefitted greatly, from a Rockies line-up that has produced a lot of runs. The Rockies were 17-7 in his first 24 starts, but have fallen to just 5-5 in his last 10. One concern today is the fact that Brandon Webb is on the hill for Arizona, and he just doesn't give up very much. The Rockies are just 5-10 with Francis on the hill if they score 4 runs or less. Webb has allowed more than 4 runs, just 1 time in his last 15 starts, which doesn't allow the Rockies much wiggle room. The triple combination of Webb on the hill, facing a LHP, at home has been an unbeatable combination for the D-Backs. The D-Backs are 12-0 the last 12 times this triple combination has taken place. They have outscored the opponent 69-22, or 5.75-1.83. If you go back further they are 17-2, out-scoring the opponent 101-47, or 5.32 to 2.47. It is also noteworthy, that in this Rockie run of 17-1, the lone loss was to Arizona, with Brandon Webb on the mound. We are taking the Rockie streak head on, because there is even a stronger one facing them tonight, and we like the D-Backs to open the series with the win.