Texas @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 12, 2013 ) Milwaukee 3, Texas 12

12.00

The Milwaukee Brewers attempt to end a five-game losing streak when they host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday in the first contest of a two-game series. Milwaukee has been outscored 35-17 during its skid and allowed six or more runs in each of the losses. Texas lost to the Chicago Cubs on Monday but remained 2 1/2 games ahead of the Oakland Athletics in the American League West. The Brewers are in fourth place in the National League Central.

Milwaukee may be struggling but 23-year-old shortstop Jean Segura has been surprisingly good and is batting .333 with four homers and eight steals. “Everything he’s doing is really good,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “He is playing well. Driving the ball, stealing bases. The defense – we knew he was going to be good defensively, but I still thought he would make some mistakes, just being young. He’s not making too many mistakes.” Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler went hitless against the Cubs to halt an 11-game hitting streak. Kinsler batted .417 during his surge.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest (Texas), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Justin Grimm (2-1, 2.28 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (2-2, 6.00)

Grimm has performed well while replacing injured Matt Harrison in the rotation. He has allowed six earned runs in four starts and has 24 strikeouts against eight walks in 23 2/3 innings. Grimm matched a season-best with nine strikeouts while losing to Chicago in his last start. He gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings against the White Sox.

Peralta is coming off his worst outing of the season when he gave up six runs and a season-high 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings while losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. He gave up 11 hits over 12 2/3 innings while winning his previous two outings. Peralta has a 1.67 WHIP and opposing hitters are touching him up for a .306 average. He has a 7.52 ERA in four home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas C Geovany Soto, who used to play with the Cubs, has 16 homers in 61 career games against the Brewers.

2. Brewers OF Carlos Gomez is batting .467 during a 12-game hitting streak and leads the NL with a .368 average.

3. Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland is batting .200 on the road with no homers. At home, he is batting .362 with four homers.

PREDICTION: Rangers 11, Brewers 6