Houston @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2012 ) Houston 7, Milwaukee 6
The Milwaukee Brewers' remarkable run at a postseason berth looks as though it will fall short, as the Brewers will be eliminated with one loss or one St. Louis win, but Milwaukee will try to postpone its fate another day when right-hander Marco Estrada faces the Houston Astros in the middle game of a three-game series at Miller Park. The Brewers won six straight and nine of 10 to get into the thick of the race for the second National League wild card, but they've lost five of seven to slip to the brink of elimination.
Estrada is charged with quieting a Houston offense that broke out for four home runs in the series opener, including a pair by catcher Jason Castro. The win helped the Astros avoid their own negative fate; their next loss will match the franchise record of 106 set last season. Astros starter Dallas Keuchel will try to win a third straight start for the first time in his career and earn his first win against the Brewers. He is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 4.66 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Marco Estrada (4-7, 3.87)
Keuchel has begun to put things together in September, allowing one or no runs in his three starts this month. The 24-year-old rookie has won his last two outings, and he struck out five and allowed one run over seven innings in his last start against Pittsburgh.
Estrada had won two straight starts before getting shelled for seven runs (six earned) in four innings last time out at Washington. Estrada has made two starts and six relief appearances against Houston without a decision; he has a 4.34 ERA in those games.
WALK-OFFS
1. Milwaukee OF Ryan Braun, who is on an eight-game hitting streak, is 2-for-4 with two walks against Estrada.
2. The Brewers lead the season series 8-7 and need one win in the next two games to clinch the series for the fifth time in the past six years.
3. Astros 2B Jose Altuve, who homered and raised his team-best batting average to .293 on Friday, is 4-for-6 against Estrada.