Bert Blyleven

After surprisingly one-sided series in the first round of the playoffs, the postseason has reached the LCS with four teams looking to move on to the World Series.

Look for the matchups between the Red Sox and Indians and the Diamondbacks and Rockies to both go six games, and look for Colorado to keep rolling and Cleveland to jolt the boys from Beantown.

ROCKIES VS. DIAMONDBACKS
Two teams most expected to be on the golf course by now are instead squaring off for the NL pennant. Arizona's found a way to win despite a meager offense and bundle of youth sprinkled throughout its lineup. Colorado, left for dead about a month ago, is on a ridiculous roll, entering the LCS having won 17 of its last 18 games.

Getting hot this time of year can lead to some wonderful things so Colorado hopes its momentum doesn't vanish anytime soon. Offensively the Rockies should score enough runs unless their bats drastically cool off. Arizona's ace Brandon Webb may beat them, but the Rockies' red-hot sticks could certainly spell trouble for the other D'Back's starters they'll likely face: Doug Davis, Livan Hernandez, and Micah Owings.

To start the series Webb is matched against the Rockies' best starter, Jeff Francis, a 17-game winner this season, who couldn't have asked for more in his first-ever postseason start against the Phillies. In Game 1 of the LDS he held Rollins, Utley, Howard and company to a pair of runs and four hits in six innings while striking out eight.

Game 1 could swing on which pitcher gets some early run support. If it's Francis the D'Backs may be a tad more concerned than one might expect since Colorado's 26-year-old lefty is 7-2 lifetime against Arizona with a 3.54 ERA in 14 starts.

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After Francis there's the question of how the younger members of the Colorado rotation will fare. The Game 2 start goes to 23-year-old Ubaldo Jimenez and the Game 4 start to 21-year-old Franklin Morales. Veteran Josh Fogg will start Game 3.

Against the Phillies in Game 3 Jimenez went 6.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out five and walking four. In Game 2 of the LDS Morales went just three innings giving up three runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked two. But Colorado manager Clint Hurdle has confidence in both despite their inexperience.

Who would have thought that Arizona's pitching would have held the Cubs to a mere six runs? Or that Colorado's arms would have limited the Phillies to just eight runs?

The bullpens are both strong, part of why these two teams are playing for the NL pennant. How these relievers fare with so much more now on the line will be a key factor towards determining which team wins the series. Keep on eye on Brandon Lyon, who could prove an X-factor out of the Arizona bullpen.

The Diamondbacks are an awfully young club. Tony Clark and Eric Byrnes are the veterans, but the rest of Arizona's core players are in their mid or early twenties. Arizona is no offensive juggernaut. Quite to the contrary. The Diamondbacks were outscored by their opponents in the regular season. They had to be happy with pushing across 16 runs against the Cubs and can only hope for more of the same against the Rockies.

Colorado's offense can be explosive. The top seven players in the Rockies' lineup all hit at least .288 during the regular season, and three players batted over .300. Matt Holliday led the way with a league-best .340 batting average. He's had a great year as has shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who plays superb defense and who hit .291 and drove in 99 runs. Veteran Todd Helton is playing in the postseason for the first time, and at 34 he not only still wields a potent bat (.320 BA in the regular season), but also provides invaluable leadership for the team's younger players.

These teams know each other fairly well although some new faces have come onto the scene for both sides over the course of the season. Colorado won the season series, 10-8, its offense outscoring Arizona, 86-72. Interestingly 12 games in the season series were decided by two runs or less, and each team won six.

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