Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( May 20, 2010 ) Milwaukee 4, Pittsburgh 3
The Milwaukee Brewers are hoping the return of a veteran pitcher can help turn around their fortunes.
Doug Davis makes his first start in two months tonight when he takes the mound for Milwaukee as the Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of their three-game series.
Davis' last major league appearance came on May 10, when he was tagged for six runs - three earned - over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-2 loss to Atlanta. The 34-year old was placed on the disabled list six days later with pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart.
In two rehab starts, Davis went 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA, allowing just two runs in 15 innings.
Davis will be making his fourth home start of the season. His first three have been less than impressive, as the left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA at Miller Park.
In 22 career outings against the Pirates, Davis owns an 8-6 record and 4.82 ERA.
The Brewers definitely could use a good performance from Davis as they enter tonight's contest having lost five consecutive games and six of their last seven. Milwaukee also has dropped five in a row at home, falling to 17-26 on the season at Miller Park.
The club suffered a 9-3 loss to San Francisco on Thursday, completing a four-game sweep in which Milwaukee was outscored by a 36-7 margin. The Brewers were abysmal in the clutch during the series, going just 3-for-42 (.071) with runners in scoring position and stranding 46 baserunners.
Pittsburgh enters the series with plenty of its own problems.
The Pirates registered just one hit against Houston ace Roy Oswalt on Thursday, a two-out single in the first inning by Neil Walker. Lance Berkman hit a pair of solo homers as the Astros completed a three-game sweep with a 2-0 triumph.
It marked the sixth time Pittsburgh has been swept in its last seven road series. The Pirates have lost 21 of their last 23 road games, falling to 11-35 away from home this year.
Pittsburgh looks to get off on the right foot in this series behind Paul Maholm, who has lost three of his last four decisions. On Saturday, the 28-year-old surrendered eight runs - seven earned - and 10 hits in just three innings of a 12-4 loss to Philadelphia.
Maholm will be facing the Brewers for the third time in 2010. The left-hander went 0-1 with a 5.14 over the first two meetings, allowing four runs in seven innings each time.
In 16 career outings against Milwaukee, Maholm is 3-6 with a 4.66 ERA. He has dropped six of the last seven decisions vs. the Brewers.
Milwaukee All-Stars Ryan Braun and Corey Hart have fared well against Maholm over their careers. Braun is 9-for-27 (.333) with one home run and eight RBIs, while Hart also is hitting .333 (13-for-39) with two blasts and five RBIs.
Brewers slugger Prince Fielder, however, has struggled vs. the southpaw, collecting just three hits in 40 at-bats (.075) and striking out 12 times while driving in just three runs.