Milwaukee @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2013 ) Milwaukee 3, Houston 1

Yovani Gallardo is on a roll and his track record suggests he will give the Milwaukee Brewers a great chance to prevail in Thursday's finale of a three-game series with the host Houston Astros. Gallardo has been sensational over his career against the Astros, logging a 13-3 mark and 2.87 ERA in 16 starts against Houston. Gallardo has also been comfortable pitching at Houston's Minute Maid Park, posting a 5-2 mark and 2.66 ERA in seven career outings.

Lucas Harrell, who will oppose Gallardo, has had his struggles but Houston's starting pitching has been solid over the past five weeks. After opening the season with 10 wins in the first 40 games, the Astros are 17-16 in their last 33 - with their starting pitchers posting a 3.00 ERA in that span. Harrell will have a tough act to follow after Jordan Lyles and Erik Bedard each allowed a single run in the first two games of the series.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Comcast SportsNet (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (6-6, 4.41 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lucas Harrell (5-7, 4.48)

Gallardo is coming off his best two outings of the season, winning back-to-back starts - both on the road - and not allowing a run in 14 innings. He blanked the Cincinnati Reds on three hits over six innings last time out and went a season-high eight innings while limiting Miami to four hits in his previous start. He was 3-1 against Houston last year.

Harrell has endured maddening bouts of inconsistency this season, but he's turned in three consecutive solid starts. He beat the Chicago White Sox last time out, giving up three runs in 6 2/3 innings, and tossed seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Kansas City in his previous outing. Harrell has struggled at home with a 3-5 record and 5.85 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gallardo's five victories at Minute Maid represent his most wins in any opposing stadium.

2. Astros 2B Jose Altuve had three hits and stole three bases Wednesday, giving him 16 on the season.

3. Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez hit his 23rd homer at Minute Maid Park, which ranks second to Albert Pujols (24) among opposing players.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Astros 2