Milwaukee @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 1, 2013 ) Milwaukee 4, Philadelphia 3
On the heels of their longest losing streak of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have a shot at their most pronounced winning stretch in more than a month on Sunday when they vie for a three-game road sweep against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Brewers have claimed the first two contests of the series to stop a six-game skid. Philadelphia has dropped three straight contests.
The Phillies turn to ace left-hander Cliff Lee, who is charged with slowing red-hot Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who is 7-for-9 with three homers in the series. The Brewers haven't swept a series on the road since taking three at Pittsburgh from Sept. 18-20 last season. Milwaukee hasn't swept a three-game series from Philadelphia since May 16-18, 2006.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), PHL 17 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Mike Fiers (1-3, 5.66 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (6-2, 2.34)
Fiers has bobbed between the rotation and the bullpen all year and is set to make his third start after pitching three innings in relief in Tuesday's 14-inning loss to Minnesota. His last start came May 25 against Pittsburgh, and he was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs in as many innings.
Lee has recorded five straight quality starts and is 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA over that span. He followed up a three-hitter at Miami with another stellar outing last time out at Boston, holding the Red Sox to one run over eight innings with eight strikeouts. Lee is 0-1 with a 5.08 ERA in five starts against Milwaukee.
WALK-OFFS
1. Lucroy is riding a seven-game hitting streak and is 16-for-37 since his average dipped to .208 on May 20.
2. Phillies rookie Cesar Hernandez, who is filling in for injured 2B Chase Utley, had three hits Saturday and is 5-for-15 since being called up.
3. Brewers LF Ryan Braun is 8-for-16 with three homers against Lee. Braun is 2-for-9 with no extra-base hits in the series.
PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Brewers 2