Milwaukee @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2012 ) Houston 4, Milwaukee 13
The Milwaukee Brewers' three-game winning streak might be a case of too little, too late for a team that began the year with postseason aspirations - but even an ultimately meaningless success story would be the envy of the Houston Astros. Houston opens a three-game home series having lost 34 of 38 after being shut out in the final contest of a four-game sweep at the hands of Washington on Thursday, dropping the Astros 41 games below .500.
The Brewers cashed in their playoff hopes when they traded ace Zack Greinke to the Los Angeles Angels last month, but they've won six of nine and are trying to match a season-high four-game win streak after sweeping National League Central leader Cincinnati. Milwaukee's recent success has come at home, though, and the Brewers have lost nine straight road games dating to their last trip to Houston. They took two of three at Minute Maid Park from July 6-8.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Houston
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Mark Rogers (0-1, 5.91 ERA) vs. Astros RH Bud Norris (5-9, 5.07)
Rogers is still after his first major-league win, as he was hit hard Saturday at St. Louis. He allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings in a 6-1 loss. Rogers faced the Astros back in 2010, throwing one scoreless inning in relief, but he hasn't faced anyone on Houston's current roster.
Norris' losing streak reached eight games Sunday at Atlanta, as he allowed four runs over six innings in a 6-1 defeat. He last won May 21 against the Cubs and has just four quality starts in his last 11 outings. One of those came in a no-decision against the Brewers on July 30, when he allowed three runs over six innings in an 8-7 loss. Norris is 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts against the Brewers, including a 1-1 mark and a 5.30 ERA in three outings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers OF Norichika Aoki is hitting .349 (15-for-43) during an 11-game hitting streak, which is still four games shy of the longest of the rookie's major-league career.
2. The Astros have averaged 2.1 runs in their last nine games - eight losses - and haven't scored more than four runs since July 30.
3. Milwaukee has average 2.9 runs per game during its nine-game road losing streak. The Brewers have scored one run or been shut out in four of those games.