The 32-year-old Cuban knows how to pitch. Not throw – pitch. And Livan Hernandez has done it often in the postseason, going 3-0 in division series play, 2-0 in league championship games and 2-2 in the World Series. Pitching for the Marlins in 1997, he was the MVP in both the NLCS and the World Series.
He throws a fastball that can still reach the mid-80s, then follows it up with a mid-50s curveball, leaving batters twisted like pretzels.
He started five games against the Rockies this season, posting a 1-0 record and a 1.54 ERA. Though the Rockies walked 14 times in those games, they hit just .258.
The Rockies have an aggressive, fastball-hitting lineup that plays into the hands of Hernandez, who toys with overaggressive hitters. The Rockies will have to try and be more patient. That’s what Todd Helton has done, and he owns Hernandez. Helton carries a .485 lifetime average (32-for-66) with 12 doubles, 16 RBIs and 11 walks against the right-hander.
Rookie right-hander Micah Owings is slated to start Game 4 for Arizona. He had 14 quality starts this season, tied for fifth among rookies. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder is still rounding off the rough edges on the mound, but at the plate he’s been amazing. He hit .333 (20-for-60) with four homers and 15 RBIs. In a memorable game at Atlanta on Aug. 18, he went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs.
