Then, it's yet another trip out West, beginning with three games in the pitcher's hell known as Coors Field. It's no coincidence that those three teams are in first place. The more stable your starting rotation, the better chance a club has of winning. Reliever Doug Henry, recently traded from Houston to San Francisco, has been impressed with the consistency and dependability of the Giants' starting pitchers. By going so deep into games, it's a huge benefit.
Relievers stay fresh.
The way the staff is set up now, it's a beautiful thing. The Brewers fell immediately out of contention in the NL Central Division this season, and a revolving door in the starting rotation was a leading cause. Three teams have used 11 starters - San Diego, Philadelphia and the Chicago Cubs. Check the standings and you'll see those clubs have not fared very well, either, with constant flux in their rotation. The Los Angeles Dodgers, once a beacon of pitching stability, have used nine starters this season with little luck.