San Diego @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2012 ) San Diego 3, Milwaukee 5
After going 0-2-1 in their previous three series, the Milwaukee Brewers attempt to clinch the win in their final series of the season when they host the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Milwaukee (82-78) posted a 5-3 victory on Monday, securing its second straight winning season. Carlos Gomez, Rickie Weeks and Jonathan Lucroy went deep, giving the Brewers a National League-leading 201 home runs.
Milwaukee reached the 200-homer mark for the second consecutive season and fifth time in team history. San Diego lost for the fifth time in six games. Will Venable collected three of the Padres' eight hits and starting pitcher Clayton Richard belted his first career home run. Richard served up all three of the Brewers' blasts as he failed to notch his career-high 15th victory.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Anthony Bass (2-7, 4.50 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 5.00)
Bass has little time to prepare as he was named the starter late Monday after the Padres decided to shut down the 22-year-old Casey Kelly for the season. Bass allowed one run over five innings against Texas in his 14th start of the year June 20 but landed on the disabled list with an inflamed shoulder afterward and has made seven relief appearances since returning Sept. 7. The 24-year-old lost his only career outing versus Milwaukee on June 10, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 frames.
Thornburg has made four relief appearances since his last start on July 18, when he yielded two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings against St. Louis. The 24-year-old last pitched on Sept. 22 at Washington, where he allowed one run and two hits in three frames. In his first career start June 19 versus Toronto, Thornburg surrendered five runs over 5 1/3 innings but escaped with a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. With 1,386 strikeouts, Milwaukee's pitching staff needs 18 to match the 2003 Chicago Cubs' all-time record.
2. San Diego SS Everth Cabrera stole two bases Monday, increasing his NL-leading total to 43. Cabrera, who has been caught only three times, is hoping to become the first Padre to lead the league in steals.
3. Brewers 1B Corey Hart will sit out Tuesday's game after aggravating his plantar fasciitis in Monday's series opener.