New York @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2012 ) Milwaukee 8, NY Mets 0
The Milwaukee Brewers continue their improbable run for a playoff spot Friday, when they host the struggling New York Mets in the opener of their three-game series at Miller Park. Milwaukee (72-71) has used an 18-5 run to move above the .500 mark for the first time since April 12, when it was 4-3. The Brewers, who just completed a three-game sweep of the National League wild card-leading Atlanta Braves, are 3 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot.
Milwaukee also is on the verge of matching the franchise record for consecutive home victories as it enters the series having won nine straight at Miller Park. The club posted 10 home wins in a row from July 8-29, 1979. The Brewers welcome in a Mets team that is coming off an 0-6 homestand. New York has lost eight of nine overall but has won six of its last nine away from home.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jon Niese (10-9, 3.47 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Mike Fiers (9-7, 3.05)
Niese has lost three straight starts despite allowing a total of seven runs over 19 innings. The 25-year-old deserved a better fate last Friday, when he yielded just one run in six frames against Atlanta but still suffered the loss. Niese has been the victim of poor support as New York has scored five runs in his last four outings. The southpaw, who has surrendered three runs or less in six of his last seven starts, is 1-0 with an 8.10 ERA in three career meetings with Milwaukee.
Fiers will be making his first home start since Aug. 18, when he allowed four runs over five innings in a loss to Philadelphia. The 27-year-old went 3-1 in four road outings since, including a triumph at St. Louis on Saturday in which he yielded one run and five hits over five frames. Fiers, who has given up three runs or less in 12 of his last 15 starts, will face the Mets for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers CF Carlos Gomez is day to day with a bruised right quadriceps in his right leg suffered on a slide in Wednesday's game.
2. New York's six-game losing streak is its longest since an 11-game skid in April 2011.
3. Milwaukee 1B Corey Hart hopes to return to the lineup Friday after missing the entire Atlanta series with a foot injury.