Philadelphia @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 6, 2013 ) Philadelphia 5, Milwaukee 1

The Milwaukee Brewers did what few have been able to do by keeping Domonic Brown in the yard on Thursday - they just weren’t able to get the win. The Brewers will be looking to even the four-game set at a game apiece when they host Brown and the Philadelphia Phillies again on Friday. Brown failed to homer for just the fourth time in 11 games but did record a pair of hits and scored a run in Thursday’s 5-1 victory.

Philadelphia has won five straight games to pull above .500 for the first time this season at 31-30. Brown has been a huge part of the surge along with John Mayberry and Erik Kratz, who is filling in nicely behind the plate for Carlos Ruiz. Milwaukee slugger Ryan Braun did not look distracted by the performance-enhancing drug rumors swirling that have him staring at a league suspension, but he has not gotten much help from the rest of his team of late. The Brewers have dropped seven of their last eight at home.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cliff Lee (7-2, 2.45 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Alfredo Figaro (0-0, 3.67)

Lee is no stranger to midseason trade rumors and this summer promises to be no exception unless Philadelphia continues streaking all the way into postseason contention. The veteran left-hander has won five straight decisions and has struck out 19 without issuing a walk over his last two turns. Lee allowed three runs and struck out 11 in 7 2/3 innings to beat Milwaukee on Sunday.

Figaro will be making his second start of the season, taking over the spot of Mike Fiers. Figaro came on in relief of Fiers against Philadelphia on Sunday and allowed two hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. The 28-year-old had less success in his lone start, serving up three home runs in five innings against the Minnesota Twins on May 28.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brown recorded a single in his lone at-bat against Figaro last weekend.

2. Milwaukee will pluck from its bullpen again on Saturday, when LHP Tom Gorzelanny is expected to make a spot start in place of injured Marco Estrada.

3. Philadelphia pitchers have allowed a total of seven runs in the last four games.

PREDICTION: Phillies 6, Brewers 1