Milwaukee @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2009 ) Minnesota 6, Milwaukee 4
Despite breaking a nine-game losing streak Thursday, these are tough times for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Predicted to contend in the National League Central, the Brewers have fallen far short of expectations. Not only is Milwaukee not contending, only the lowly Houston Astros are keeping the club from being dead last in the division.
General Manager Doug Melvin says he is planning to stick with manager Ken Macha despite the team's skid. Of course, that could end up being the kiss of death for Macha.
Former Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman got the same vote of confidence early last week and was fired a few days later.
The Brewers open interleague play tonight against the Minnesota Twins. It's probably good news that the series is being played at Target Field. Milwaukee is an inexplicable 4-14 at home while going 12-11 on the road.
The Brewers rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit against Pittsburgh to break their losing streak with a 4-3 win.
Milwaukee needs a strong start from Dave Bush, whose only win came on April 20 against the Pirates. Bush has been knocked around in his last five starts, going 0-4 with a 5.53 ERA and giving up 36 hits in 27 2-3 innings.
He has pitched past the sixth inning once in his poor stretch and has allowed six home runs, including four against the Cubs on April 25.
Bush hasn't had much luck with the Twins. He's 1-5 in his career against Minnesota.
While Minnesota's problems are minor in comparison, the Twins have hit a bump in the road. Minnesota is coming off a 2-5 trip to Toronto, New York and Boston.
The Twins have dropped into a first-place tie in the American League Central with Detroit, marking the first time they haven't had sole possession of the division lead since April 14.
Nick Blackburn has managed to win four games despite a hefty ERA. He has won his last three starts, allowing only six earned runs and pitching at least into the seventh inning in all three appearances. Blackburn's only loss came on April 11 against Chicago.
Blackburn has benefited from ample run support. The Twins have scored 21 runs in his four victories.
The Twins took five of six in last season's home-and-home series between the teams. Minnesota hasn't lost a season series to Milwaukee since 2004.
The teams were involved in an off-season trade that saw the Twins send outfielder Carlos Gomez to the Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy.
Both players have been on the disabled list but Gomez, who has been out with a strained left rotator cuff, could be activated for this series. Hardy's bruised left wrist will keep him on the DL until next week.