Milwaukee @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2019 ) Milwaukee 4, Miami 3

The Milwaukee Brewers were dealt a crushing blow in their bid for a return to the playoffs after learning that reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich sustained a fractured right kneecap on Tuesday. The Brewers look to answer that jarring loss by notching their sixth straight win on Wednesday when they continue their four-game series against the host Miami Marlins.

Former Miami Hurricanes standout Yasmani Grandal ripped a run-scoring double among his two hits and scored the go-ahead run on an error in the ninth inning in Milwaukee's 4-3 win on Tuesday. Grandal has eight RBIs and nine runs scored in his last eight games for the Brewers, who are expected to lean on rookie Trent Grisham while Yelich returns to Milwaukee on Wednesday for further testing. "I feel so bad -- not just for him as a player and us as friends. It's bad for baseball," Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas said of Yelich, per the Miami Herald. "Losing a player like him -- an MVP candidate again -- at this time of the year when they're trying to make the playoffs and compete for a championship, it's really bad." Rojas answered his three-hit, two-RBI performance in Monday's 5-3 loss with an 0-for-4 effort the following night as the reeling Marlins fell for the 11th time in their last 15 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (9-7, 3.69 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (5-8, 4.75)

Davies had lost five straight decisions in a six-start stretch before allowing one run on three hits in five innings of a 7-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The lone run was a homer, marking the ninth time that the 26-year-old has been taken deep in his last seven trips to the mound. Neil Walker (3-for-10) and Curtis Granderson (4-for-14) have each homered in their respective careers against Davies, who sports a 3-2 record with a 5.67 ERA in five career starts versus Miami.

Lopez dropped his third consecutive start on Friday despite allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 3-0 setback against Kansas City. While the 23-year-old did not receive any run support in that contest, he received it in spades on June 4 as Miami erupted for an 11-run fifth to back his six shutout innings in a 16-0 romp. Lopez owns a 3-3 mark with a 2.68 ERA at home as opposed to a 2-5 record with a 7.71 ERA on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee 3B Hernan Perez, who belted a two-run homer on Tuesday, has hit safely in five of his last six games.

2. Marlins 2B Starlin Castro has homered twice in his last three contests overall and on two occasions in the season series versus the Brewers.

3. Brewers OF Ryan Braun, who played collegiately at Miami, is 3-for-12 against the Marlins this season.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Marlins 1