NLDS GAMETHREADS: Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers + Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers...

Colorado and Milwaukee and Atlanta and Los Angeles get their respective National League Division Series going this afternoon, with the Rockies and Brewers in Miller Park at 5:07 PM and Braves and Dodgers in Dodger Stadium at 8:37 PM EDT.

In Milwaukee, it’s Antonio Senzatela for the Rockies vs the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff in the series opener of their NLDS battle.

Senzatela, 23, wrapped up the regular season with a solid three-start stretch which saw the right-hander post a 1.62 ERA with five walks, 13 Ks, and a .213/.273/.361 line against in 16 ²⁄₃ IP over that span, which followed a six-start winless streak, over which he had a 5.01 ERA, 10 walks, 24 Ks, and a .303/.354/.508 line against in 32 ¹⁄₃ IP.

Woodruff started four games this season, the last on June 10th, but Brewers’ skipper Craig Counsell told reporters in advance of the series opener that they decided to go with a full bullpen day in Game 1 with the Rockies.

“Yeah. We’re going to use a bullpen. It’s going to be a bullpen day. We’re going to use guys that haven’t kind of been our starters this last couple weeks, so we’re going to use a bunch of different guys and still deciding on exactly the order of that scenario,” he explained.

Meanwhile, out in LA, Mike Foltynewicz gets the nod for the 2018 NL East champs, who take on the Dodgers.

Foltynewicz, 26, wrapped up the regular season with a strong run in September which saw the right-hander go (3-1) in five starts with a 3.09 ERA, 10 walks, 28 Ks, and a .147/.231/.248 line against in 32 IP.

He talked going into the series about the Braves being underestimated all season and again in their NLDS matchup with the Dodgers.

“I mean we’ve been underdogs all year really, so this is nothing new for us, we’ve been told,” Foltynewicz said.

“We definitely want to come out here and compete. We’re not just here to say, ‘Hey, we made it.’ We’ve got a great team, great starting staff that we know we can play against good teams.

“We have been all year. So there’s no expectations of that. But yeah, we’re just going to take it one day at a time. And we definitely can come in here and make some noise, especially the way we’ve been playing on the road all year.

“Everyone got a couple of days off the last few days, so kind of refreshed and ready to go.

“We’re going to be excited, play with our hearts every game like we have been. But we’re not just going to come in here and roll over. We’re going to put up a fight.”

Hyun-Jin Ryu starts for the Dodgers, having won his last three outings in the regular season, with a 0.47 ERA, two walks, 16 Ks, and a .182/.206/.258 line against in 19 IP in those starts.

LA skipper Dave Roberts talked before the start of the series about the decision to go with Ryu over say, I don’t know, Clayton Kershaw.

“It was more of just trying to appreciate that both games have equal importance, and what we can do to put both pitchers in the best position to succeed,” Roberts explained.

“And so when you look at it and giving each guy one extra day of rest as opposed to Hyun-Jin, and Clayton on regular rest.

“And then you look at Game 3, Walker [Buehler], on an extra day, made more sense to us.”

So there you have it. NLDS matchups get underway this afternoon. Enjoy your postseason.

HERE ARE THE LINEUPS FOR THE ROCKIES AND BREWERS’ OPENER:

HERE ARE THE LINEUPS FOR THE BRAVES AND DODGERS’ SERIES OPENER: