Milwaukee @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2011 ) Milwaukee 5, Arizona 2

THE STORY: The Arizona Diamondbacks will be without shortstop Stephen Drew, who was lost for the season with a fractured ankle suffered Wednesday, when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. After opening the four-game series with a 3-0 win, the Diamondbacks have lost two straight. Playing at the same Chase Field where he won the All-Star MVP award, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder is 0-for-12 in the series.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin, FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zack Greinke (7-3, 5.04 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (10-3, 3.39 ERA)

Greinke gave up three runs over six innings last Saturday in Colorado. The Brewers are 10-4 when he pitches, and opponents are batting .255 against him. Greinke is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Kennedy earned his career-high 10th win on July 16 against the Dodgers, allowing two runs with seven strikeouts over seven innings. He is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers. The Diamondbacks are 11-4 in Kennedy’s last 15 home starts against a team with a winning record.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (53-46): Center fielder Carlos Gomez broke his left collarbone making a diving catch on Wednesday and could be out for the rest of the season. Nyjer Morgan replaced Gomez in center and knocked in the go-ahead run with a single in the 10th inning. The Brewers will reportedly promote Triple-A Nashville outfielder Brett Carroll, who is batting .278 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs for the Sounds. Ryan Braun played the entire game Wednesday and appears to be fully recovered from his lingering leg injury. If Casey McGehee continues to struggle and general manager Doug Melvin isn’t able to trade for help at third base, the Brewers could consider Taylor Green, who is hitting .314 with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs for Nashville. McGehee has shown signs of breaking out of his season-long slump over the last seven games (7-for-24), but the Brewers are going to need more production at third base to make a deep postseason run.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (52-46): Drew will miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a fractured right ankle as he slid into home in the fourth inning Wednesday. After a hot start, Drew was in the midst of a lengthy slump, but his loss will definitely impact the Diamondbacks. He is second among National League shortstops with 45 RBIs, and his defense in the middle of the infield was critical to Arizona’s success this season. The Diamondbacks will promote Cody Ransom from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, and he’ll likely share time with Willie Bloomquist at shortstop. The 35-year-old Ransom is hitting .331 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs for Reno. Before Wednesday’s game, the Diamondbacks promoted Ryan Cook from Double-A Mobile. Cook has posted strong numbers in Mobile, but he struggled in his major league debut, giving up three runs without recording an out.

FINAL PITCH: The Brewers are 8-2 in their last 10 during the fourth game of a series.