Brewers Blurb 9/21 Potential Pitching Rotation Part 3: Yovani Gallardo

For Today's Blurb, we continue the comprehensive look at the starters who should be starting playoff games (Grienke, Marcum, Gallardo, and Wolf). First, lets look at Gallardo's stats.

Once again, the stats that I made up are the same: Short starts (Starts less than 5.0 IP), Bad Starts (Gives up more than 5 ER).

Overall: Starts: 32, 17-10, 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, Short Starts: 4, Complete Games: 1, Quality Starts: 22, Bad Starts: 6
Home: Starts: 15, 10-2, 3.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, Short Starts: 2, Complete Games: 1, Quality Starts: 10, Bad Starts: 2
Road: Starts: 17, 7-8, 4.05 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, Short Starts:2, Complete Games: 0, Quality Starts: 12, Bad Stars: 4

Gallardo is a hit or miss starter, you never know what you will get from him. Although that is usually the case, he is on a hot streak lately, and almost unbeatable at home. In his last seven home starts, he has only given up more than two ER just once (8 ER vs . St. Louis). In his last twelve starts only once has he allowed more than 3 ER twice (Both vs. St. Louis).

Gallardo is one of two starters who has postseason experience (the other one being Wolf). In his two postseason appearances in 2008, he pitched 7.0 IP, gave up only four hits, and allowed 0 earned runs (3 unearned). Postseason experience is valuable on a team like the Brewers with little of it to go around.

I trust Gallardo enough to be a number 2 starter at home, and hopefully provide the playoff experience necessary to make a deep run in the playoffs. In a road series, I'd pencil him in Game 4. Keep the pitchers in their comfort zone, and Gallardo's is Miller Park.

The Blurb's Suggested Playoff Rotation

vs. Braves Home
1. Grienke
2. Gallardo
3. Marcum
4.
5. Grienke

vs. Diamondbacks Home

1. Grienke
2. Gallardo
3. Marcum
4.
5. Grienke

vs. Diamondbacks Road

1. Marcum
2.
3. Grienke
4. Gallardo
5. Marcum

Predictions:

Yesterday's Prediction: Brewers 3, Cubs 2
Yesterday's Result: Brewers 5, Cubs 1
Record: 3-1

Great start by Marcum on the road. I wonder if they would have used K-Rod in a save situation last night.

Today's Prediction: Cubs 2, Brewers 1

Matt Garza is on fire right now. Randy Wolf still should put up a good outing.

That's all for the Blurb today, tomorrow will conclude the Potential Pitching Rotation series with Randy Wolf.