Milwaukee @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( May 31, 2013 ) Milwaukee 8, Philadelphia 5
A pair of rookie pitchers striving for more consistency - and a couple of teams looking for the same - will continue their three-game weekend set on Saturday when the visiting Milwaukee Brewers try to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies for the second straight night. Struggling right-hander Wily Peralta will get the ball for the Brewers opposite Tyler Cloyd, who is looking to bounce back from the worst outing of his young career.
The Brewers claimed an 8-5 victory in the series opener, ending a season-worst six-game losing streak and managing to avoid tying the franchise record for losses in a month. Milwaukee went 6-22 in May and is buried in the cellar of the National League Central. The Phillies have dropped two straight and four of six to slide three games below .500.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), CSN Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Wily Peralta (3-6, 6.35 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 5.74)
Peralta has lost his last four starts and has an 8.15 ERA over that span. He gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings in a loss to Minnesota on Monday. Peralta has never faced the Phillies.
Cloyd was outstanding in his first two starts with the Phillies after his call-up earlier this month, but he was rocked for six runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings last time out at Boston. Half the damage came on a pair of home runs. Cloyd has never faced the Brewers and will be making his first home start.
WALK-OFFS
1. After going 5-for-5 with two homers Friday, Brewers C Jonathan Lucroy is riding a six-game hitting streak and is 14-for-33 since his average dipped to .208 on May 20.
2. The Brewers have not won a road series since taking two of three at San Diego from April 22-24.
3. Thirty two of Philadelphia's last 36 homers have been solo shots - including two of three on Friday.
PREDICTION: Phillies 7, Brewers 5