DENVER -- Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado didn't need a pep talk.
"We know who we are as an offense," said Arenado, who was 2-for-7 while his team hit .186 in the first two games of the National League Division Series against the Brewers. "We'll have our talks and our meetings before the game today, but there isn't a whole lot of discussion.
"It's visible what we're doing up there at the plate, and it's just not getting done."
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With the Rockies' well-documented chasing of pitches outside the zone, and Brewers lefty Wade Miley's ability to get hitters to do just that, Arenado's history against Miley stood as a good strategy. Arenado entered hitting .385 (5-for-13) with, more importantly, four walks and a sacrifice fly against Miley.
However, according to Statcast™, in Games 1 and 2, Arenado chased nine of the 15 pitches he saw outside the zone. Five pitches Arenado chased were fastballs -- three above the zone, two inside. The swings above the zone might not be a factor with Miley, who has changed from earlier in his career when he worked high with the fastball. The ones inside are a concern, since Miley uses his cutter there.
The team-wide and individual tendency to chase begged a logical question: Is postseason pressure -- in the first series for many of the club's regulars -- a factor?
Arenado's response?
Who cares? Just do the job.
"Every game is do or die now, so that's enough pressure as it is," Arenado said. "We're just trying to go out there and win a ballgame. That's all we're trying to think about. We're not worried about what's going on around us or what the other team is doing."
On the mound: Bud Black
A usual pregame ritual for All-Stars Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story before the Rockies face a left-hander is to have batting-cage sessions with manager Bud Black, a former Major League lefty with postseason experience. On Sunday, Black pitched to all the regulars on the field.
Sometimes in the cage sessions, Black will emulate the other team's starter's breaking ball, especially if it's a tough slider. On Sunday, it was fastballs. Miley throws with less velocity than earlier in his career, but he manipulates between a fastball, a slider and a cutter. Some of Sunday's reserves -- Gerardo Parra, David Dahl and Garrett Hampson in particular -- took their cuts off right-handed bench coach Mike Redmond.
Total confidence
Lefty Kyle Freeland would have been on normal rest had he started Sunday, but Black went with righty German Marquez and gave Freeland an extra day. Freeland's 6 2/3 scoreless innings in Tuesday's NL Wild Card Game came on three days' rest. Freeland was slated for Monday's Game 4 if necessary, and he spoke with confidence that he would have that chance.

"Look at Marquez's second half -- he's got an extremely hot hand," Freeland said. "He's gone out there and dominated and shown what he can truly do. I have full confidence in Marquez.
"Obviously, being a competitor, you want to be the one who takes the at-bat or takes the ball or takes the mound or whatever, but you have to have complete confidence in your teammates to let them do their job and help this team move on."