Milwaukee @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2019 ) Milwaukee 7, Colorado 11

Even entering the weekend with a seven-game winning streak, the Milwaukee Brewers knew they had a slim margin for error if they had any hope of claiming the top spot in the National League wild-card race or winning the NL Central. After falling victim to the Colorado Rockies in the series opener Friday, the Brewers hope to make a final push toward bettering their spot in the postseason Saturday when the teams meet again at Coors Field.

Milwaukee had a chance to pull into a first-place tie with St. Louis atop the Central and remain one game behind Washington for the first wild card before its bullpen imploded Friday, giving up a total of 10 runs in the sixth and seven innings in Friday's 11-7 loss. The Brewers did not to lose any ground in the division race thanks to St. Louis' loss to the Chicago Cubs and the setback was only their third in the last 21 games, but it came at a price as Ryan Braun left in the second half due to left calf discomfort. Colorado won for only the third time in nine tries, doing most of its damage during a seven-run sixth that Raimel Tapia capped with a pinch-hit grand slam. In doing so, Tapia became the first player in the club's 27-year history with two pinch-hit grand slams in the same season.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 3.70 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-6, 5.68)

Gio Gonzalez is scheduled to take Brandon Woodruff's spot in the rotation this weekend after serving as the bulk reliever for Woodruff in each of his last two outings. The two-time All-Star has been effective in the latter role recently, firing 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out seven, including Sunday when he worked 3 1/3 frames in a win against Pittsburgh. Daniel Murphy is 10-for-29 versus Gonzalez, who is 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six career starts against Colorado.

Chi Chi Gonzalez improved to 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four appearances (three starts) in September after earning the win in relief last Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, yielding two unearned runs and striking out eight over five innings. The 27-year-old has allowed a total of four runs (two earned) in 21 1/3 frames this month after surrendering 21 runs over 16 innings in August. Gonzalez is 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA in five starts at Coors Field entering his first career start against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers had allowed a total of 13 runs during their seven-game winning streak. Additionally, Milwaukee's bullpen entered Friday with a 12-0 record and 2.23 ERA over its previous 20 contests.

2. Four of Tapia's nine homers this year have come as a pinch hitter.

3. Milwaukee rookie 2B Keston Hiura enjoyed his first career four-hit night in the opener and has at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games.

PREDICTION: Brewers 7, Rockies 6