San Diego @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 8, 2018 ) San Diego 4, Milwaukee 8

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a stellar power display as they look to win the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon. Five different players homered - tying a franchise record - as the Brewers recorded an 8-4 victory on Wednesday.

Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames hit consecutive homers in the first inning while Orlando Arcia and Christian Yelich went deep later in the contest as Milwaukee climbed within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. Aguilar has homered in each of the first two games of the series and is tied for third in the National League with 28 blasts. San Diego is 3-3 entering the finale of its seven-game road trip and has scored 27 runs in the three triumphs. Hunter Renfroe has homered in three straight contests for the Padres and is 9-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Robbie Erlin (2-3, 3.34 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (6-7, 3.42)

Erlin is making his second straight start and fourth of the campaign. The 27-year-old defeated the Cubs on August 2 as he gave up one run and two hits over five innings. Erlin allowed two runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings of relief against the Brewers on March 31 in his lone career appearance versus the club.

Guerra has gone 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA while serving up five home runs over this last four turns. The 33-year-old won three straight outings prior to the funk and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average this season. Guerra is 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three career starts versus the Padres.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer is mired in an 18-game home-run drought.

2. Milwaukee CF Lorenzo Cain has recorded two or more hits in all five games versus San Diego this season, going 12-for-24 with six runs scored, four stolen bases, four doubles and three RBIs.

3. San Diego is expected to recall RHP Jacob Nix to start Friday's game against Philadelphia.

PREDICTION: Brewers 7, Padres 5