Milwaukee @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2012 ) Milwaukee 3, Houston 4
The Milwaukee Brewers' disappointing season was neatly summed up in one half-inning Friday, as yet another bullpen meltdown on the road handed the Houston Astros their first walkoff win of the season. The Brewers will try to bounce back and end their 10-game road losing streak when the three-game series continues with Houston looking for its first back-to-back wins since June 26-27 against San Diego.
The Astros snapped a five-game skid and won for just the fifth time in 39 games. They'll try to clinch their first series win since taking two of three from Cleveland from June 22-24. The Brewers are trying to avoid their fourth straight series loss on the road, where they are 18-34 this season. Jim Henderson figures to slide into Milwaukee's closer role after John Axford's eighth blown save Friday - the Brewers' 30th blown lead of the season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Houston
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (0-5, 4.13 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (1-4, 5.60)
Estrada turned in one of his best outings of the year Sunday at St. Louis, holding the Cardinals to one run on seven hits over six innings, but he was on the wrong end of a shutout and remained winless. It was his second straight quality start and his third in his last four outings. Estrada has allowed two earned runs in 10 innings against Houston this season.
The Astros have lost the last six games Keuchel has started, and the rookie has lost his last four decisions since a complete game against Cleveland in his second major-league start June 23. The Brewers roughed him up for seven runs in four innings July 31 in Milwaukee, and he surrendered a career-high 12 hits in six innings in a no-decision Monday against Washington.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks is 20-for-50 (.400) in 15 games since July 25, raising his average from .190 to .218 over that span.
2. Milwaukee has scored 2.9 runs per game during its 10-game road losing streak, and the Brewers have scored one run or been shut out in four of those games.
3. The Astros have not scored more than four runs in a game since July 30, averaging 2.3 runs over their past 10 games.