Florida @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 6, 2011 ) Milwaukee 7, Florida 2
THE STORY: The best home team in baseball has a chance to clinch a division title at its favorite field on Friday. The Milwaukee Brewers can secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs should they defeat the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game set on Friday. The Brewers' magic number to clinch the National League Central is two. A division title is almost a foregone conclusion, but the Brewers are still jockeying with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second-best record in the National League. The Brewers lead the Diamondbacks by one game.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Wisconsin
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Chris Volstad (5-12, 5.13 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (17-10, 3.60 ERA)
Volstad is winless in nine major league starts since July 10, though the Marlins have won in his last two outings. He was especially strong Saturday at Washington, allowing only one run over seven innings but settled for a no-decision in a 4-1 win. In three starts against Milwaukee, Volstad is 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA.
Gallardo has won his last two outings after a two-start losing streak to begin the month. He has piled up 25 strikeouts over his past two outings, including a season-high 13 on Saturday at Cincinnati, where he allowed one run over six innings of a 10-1 win. Gallardo beat Volstad and the Marlins on June 4 in Florida, allowing two runs over six innings. He is 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts against Florida.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (71-85): The Marlins will need a strong finish — and a little help from the New York Mets — to avoid finishing last in the NL East for the first time since 2007. They're three games behind the Mets with six to play. Florida hasn't gone quietly, though, taking two of three from wild-card leader Atlanta this week. The Marlins have won four of six and hope to play spoiler again this weekend.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (91-65): The Brewers play their final six regular-season games at Miller Park, where they are a staggering 52-23 this season. They've hit .274 at home, compared to .246 on the road. That home-field advantage is a big reason they're on the cusp of their first division title since they won the American League pennant in 1982.
FINAL PITCH: Volstad's win at Milwaukee on Sept. 25, 2010, was the Marlins' only win in their past eight meetings with the Brewers.