Houston @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2012 ) Houston 1, Milwaukee 10
The Houston Astros try to avoid being swept for the third time in four series Wednesday afternoon when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of their three-game set at Miller Park. Houston dropped three-game series to Arizona and Cincinnati and lost its first three games against Pittsburgh before ending a 12-game losing streak with a win in the four-game series finale on Sunday. The Astros have lost eight straight on the road and have just three wins in their last 30 games overall.
Milwaukee enters with a 3-3 record on its seven-game homestand. The Brewers' offense has come to life as the team scored a total of 28 runs in its last three contests. Milwaukee, which has won two straight after losing nine of 10, received a solid effort from its bullpen Tuesday. One day after the relief corps surrendered four runs in two innings, Jim Henderson and Francisco Rodriguez each worked a scoreless frame.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Houston), FSWI (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (2-7, 5.54 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Mike Fiers (4-4, 1.77)
Lyles is winless in his last five starts, going 0-3 while allowing 26 runs over 28 2/3 innings. The 21-year-old settled for a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Friday after yielding four runs in six frames. Lyles pitched his best game during the winless stretch versus Milwaukee on July 8, when he limited the Brewers to two runs over seven innings.
Fiers has been tremendous of late, allowing a total of five runs over his last seven starts. The 27-year-old is coming off a victory over Washington on Friday in which he scattered four hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. It was the fourth time in six outings Fiers did not give up a run.
WALK-OFFS
1. Lyles has struggled mightily on the road this season, going 0-5 with a 6.97 ERA in eight starts.
2. Milwaukee 3B Aramis Ramirez's home run Tuesday was his 50th extra-base hit, tying him with Cincinnati's Joey Votto for the league lead.
3. Brewers LF Ryan Braun went 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored after missing Monday's series opener with blisters on his left hand.