Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2010 ) Milwaukee 8, Pittsburgh 1
For the past two games, the Milwaukee Brewers have evoked memories of their greatest team - the 1982 American League champion "Harvey’s Wallbangers".
They’ve jumped out to early leads and scored 19 total runs in an 11-7 victory against the Washington Nationals Sunday and an 8-1 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
They’ve collected 20 hits, blasted a couple of home runs and basically have made their fans forget Prince Fielder has yet to hit his first homer of the season.
On Wednesday, however, this offensive fury meets a test in Pittsburgh left-hander Zach Duke, the Pirates' top pitcher with a 2-0 record and a 2.37 ERA.
If any current Pittsburgh pitcher can be described as a stopper, it’s Duke. The Pirates have won all three games he’s started this season behind Duke’s sinker and changeup.
Milwaukee counters with right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who coming into this season figured to be the Brewers' stopper after winning 13 games and fanning 204 batters in 185 2/3 innings last season. He has struggled to date, however, as the Brewers have lost all three games he’s pitched in this season.
And if Duke can prevent the Brewers from having a big inning, the pattern the Pirates have been on this season would seem to favor their chances of victory on Wednesday.
Almost as if they are paying homage to the fact this is the 50th anniversary of the franchise’s 1960 World Series victory, Pittsburgh has won all six of its games decided by three runs or less and has been outscored, 57-13, in their six losses.
Still, Gallardo has a career 3-2 record with a 2.96 ERA against the Pirates, while Duke has struggled with a 3-5 mark and 5.38 ERA.
Brewers manager Ken Macha has stated many of the Brewers pitching woes this season are easily correctible. They are surrendering crucial hits with two outs and two strikes to an opposing batter.
In a year where Fielder can’t buy a home run, Gallardo is winless, Trevor Hoffman has allowed three home runs in five innings and Doug Davis has an 11.25 ERA. Ironically, lesser-known teammates have picked up the slack.
The winner of Wednesday's game will be in second place in the NL Central. Milwaukee can tie Pittsburgh with a victory, while the Pirates will have the position all to themselves with a victory. The St. Louis Cardinals lead the division with a 9-5 record.
Pirates third baseman Andy LaRoche has missed three straight games. Bobby Crosby was slated to start at third on Tuesday, but was replaced by Delwyn Young at the last minute due to a stiff shoulder.
Brewers bullpen coach Stan Kyles will be away for four to six weeks as he undergoes surgery for prostate cancer on April 29. Brevard County pitching coach Fred Dabney will serve as the Brewers bullpen coach in Kyles’ absence.
Pirates first baseman Jeff Clement collected a hit on Tuesday to break an 0-for-20 slump.
Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee is batting .396 on the season and on a career-high nine-game hitting streak.