The Milwaukee Brewers (84-75, 44-34 home) host the Arizona Diamondbacks (73-86, 33-45 away) in the final series of the regular season beginning Monday night.
Milwaukee needs to sweep the series if they have any chance to grab the final National League Wild Card spot.
The first pitch of Monday’s series opener is at 7:40 p.m. EST at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee opens as a heavy betting favorite at -235, and the over/under total is 7.5 runs.
What to Know – Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona closed out the season with its third consecutive losing season and fifth year in a row missing the postseason. The Diamondbacks sit in fourth in the NL West, and that is where they will finish the season.
The expected starter for the D’Backs is left-hander Tommy Henry (3-4, 5.98 ERA, 1.57 WHIP). Henry will try to get things figured out on the hill after three-straight starts, surrendering five runs or more. The 25-year-old has pitched 40.2 innings, allowing 27 earned runs on 44 hits and 20 walks with 31 strikeouts.
Christian Walker had a career year at the dish in his sixth season with Arizona and eighth in the majors. The 31-year-old has blasted career-high 36 home runs and has set another career-mark with 93 runs batted in. Dalton Varsho, playing his first full season in the majors, has also set career bests with 27 home runs and 73 RBIs.
The D’backs are 26th in the majors batting .230 as a team and scoring 4.4 runs per game. Arizona’s pitching staff sits 23th in the league featuring a 4.29 team earned run average.
What to Know – Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers’ chances of making the postseason are slim, but they are not completely out of it. Milwaukee is two games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the last spot on the NL-side of the playoffs.
Right-hander Brandon Woodruff (13-4, 3.05 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) takes the mound for the Brewers. Woodruff will try and build on five consecutive quality starts, highlighted by four-straight wins. The talented pitcher has thrown 147.1 innings, surrendering 50 earned runs, 119 hits, 41 walks, and striking out 183 batters.
Willy Adames has lived up to his lofty top-prospect status this year, swatting 31 home runs and driving in 97 RBIs. Adames is second on the team in runs scored (83) and hits (131). Rowdy Telez led the Brewers with 34 home runs, driving in 88 batters.
Milwaukee averages 4.5 runs per game and ranks 22nd in the MLB, hitting .235 as a team. The Brewers’ pitching staff is 13th in the majors with a 3.87 team ERA.
The Pick is In
It is win or go home for the Brewers, but they have the right man on the mound against the right team. Woodruff should have no problem navigating his way through this D’Backs lineup, giving Milwaukee a bit of hope for a playoff spot.
The Pick: Milwaukee -1.5
