Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2012 ) Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 5

The surroundings will be quite familiar for Kyle Lohse when he makes his second start with the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-hander will take the mound Friday at Busch Stadium against the host St. Louis Cardinals, facing the team for whom Lohse made 136 starts from 2008-2012. Lohse won 14 games to help the Cardinals win the 2011 World Series, then went 16-3 in 33 starts while leading the National League in winning percentage for St. Louis last season.

Part of the reason the Cardinals did not pursue Lohse after last season was the belief Shelby Miller could fill a spot in the rotation. The 22-year-old pitched well at the end of last season and in the playoffs, and nailed down the fifth slot in the Cardinals’ rotation this spring. Thursday’s off day gives first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig an extra chance to regroup. Craig, who did not play Wednesday, is hitting .229 with no homers and nine strikeouts in 35 at-bats.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Kyle Lohse (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (1-0, 3.38)

Lohse left St. Louis as a free agent and spent the entire offseason unsigned before inking a three-year deal March 25 with the Brewers. The inactivity did not bother the 34-year-old in his Milwaukee debut, Lohse held Arizona to one earned run on five hits in six innings with no walks and five strikeouts. The 13-year-veteran finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting.

Miller was not dominant in his season debut, but scuffled to a victory over San Francisco. Miller allowed four hits and four walks, but just two runs, in 5 1/3 innings. In his only other major league start, Miller held the Reds to one hit in six innings in the final regular-season game last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Lohse went 55-35 with a 3.90 ERA in five seasons with St. Louis.

2. Brewers' relievers have struggled, recording four losses and a 6.11 ERA, while opponents are batting .319 against them.

3. After a 1-3 start, the Cardinals have won four of their past five.

PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Cardinals 3