San Diego @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2019 ) Milwaukee 7, San Diego 8

The Milwaukee Brewers have won nine of their last 10 contests to bolster their playoff aspirations heading into their final regular-season homestand. The Brewers aim to continue their torrid stretch on Monday, when they open a four-game series against the San Diego Padres.

Ryan Braun belted a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning of Milwaukee's 7-6 victory over St. Louis on Sunday, giving the former National League MVP two homers in his last three games despite going 2-for-19 over his last five. Braun also homered among his two hits (in 12 at-bats) in the previous series versus San Diego, against which the Brewers mustered just one run in the first two contests of an eventual sweep from June 17-19. Milwaukee has moved within three games of the NL Central-leading Cardinals and one of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot heading into its series versus San Diego, which has surrendered 35 runs during its four-game losing streak. Rookie Luis Urias, who recorded a solo homer and a double in Sunday's 10-5 setback at Colorado, carries a career-best nine-game hitting streak into the series opener.

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Garrett Richards (2018: 5-4, 3.66 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zach Davies (9-7, 3.77)

Richards is set to return following Tommy John surgery and make his debut with San Diego after seven rehab starts and a bullpen session in Colorado on Saturday. "The results, yeah, he wants results, and we want results for him. But I don't think we're going to read too much into what the box score says," Padres manager Andy Green told reporters of the expectations for the 31-year-old. "We're confident in who he is and who he's been in his career." Richards produced positive results over eight seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 45-38 record and 3.54 ERA in 170 career appearances (115 starts).

Davies failed to work at least five innings for the third time in four outings on Wednesday as he surrendered three runs over 4 1/3 frames in a no-decision at Miami. The 26-year-old had his shortest outing of 2019 on June 19 against San Diego, exiting after allowing five runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. Eric Hosmer belted a two-run homer in that contest off Davies, who has been taken deep 13 times in 13 starts at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres OF Wil Myers has recorded four homers and 14 RBIs over his last 15 games.

2. Brewers C Yasmani Grandal went 1-for-11 in the previous series versus the Padres.

3. San Diego 3B Manny Machado went 6-for-13 with a homer in the previous set against Milwaukee.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Padres 2