Chicago @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 12, Milwaukee 2
A pair of disappointing teams searching for answers meet on Tuesday when the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs begin a three-game series at Miller Park.
Milwaukee (23-34) is tied for fourth in the NL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10 games out of first place.
Chicago is not much better off, trailing the division-leading Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals by seven games while ranking as one of the bigger disappointments of the season thus far.
The Brewers are coming off a 4-3 victory over St. Louis on Sunday and will be playing one day after admitting they made a $42 million mistake.
Milwaukee released veteran pitcher Jeff Suppan on Monday and called up reliever Chris Smith, who posted a 2-1 record with a 1.71 ERA and 16 saves at Triple-A Nashville.
The National League Championship Series MVP when he helped the Cardinals to a World Series title in 2006, Suppan signed a four-year, $42 million contract with Milwaukee before the 2007 season but he never lived up to the expectations.
Suppan made a pair of starts this season and was 0-2 with an ERA near eight before being sent to the bullpen. He was 29-36 with a 5.08 ERA in 97 starts and 13 relief appearances with the Brewers.
The performance of Suppan is indicative of the Brewers' pitching woes. Through Sunday's win over the Cardinals, the Brewers had the second worst ERA in the NL at 5.29.
Fortunately for Milwaukee, they will have one of the few bright spots of its season on the mound against the Cubs in Yovani Gallardo.
Gallardo (6-2, 2.64 ERA) looks to win his third straight start and has not lost a decision since April 10. He has given up more than two runs just once in his last 10 starts but is just 1-1 in four career starts against Chicago with an ERA of 5.64.
Ted Lilly (1-5, 3.61) starts for the Cubs, who are 2-4 on their nine-game road trip so far. Lilly has lost six straight decisions since a 5-1 win at Milwaukee of April 24. He is 4-2 in nine career games against Milwaukee, including eight starts.
Chicago is coming off a 6-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Monday in a game rescheduled from the week before after a rainout. The Cubs were 0-5 this season at PNC Park before Monday's win and it's been the type of disappointing season where lowly teams like the Pirates light up at seeing the Cubs on the schedule.
Despite the loss Monday, Pittsburgh is 7-2 against Chicago and 16-32 against the rest of the National League.