Milwaukee @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 9, 2011 ) NY Mets 4, Milwaukee 1
THE STORY: A familiar face will pay a visit to Citi Field this weekend. Reliever Francisco Rodriguez may see his first action against his former club as the Milwaukee Brewers play the host New York Mets on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Acquired during the All-Star break, Rodriguez has fared well in his role as the bridge to closer John Axford in Milwaukee. The National League Central-leading Brewers have won 19 of their last 22 games to amass a 6 1/2-game lead over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. For their part, the Mets took two of three from the San Diego Padres and are clinging to the slimmest of postseason hopes.
TV: 7:10 ET, FSWI (Milwaukee), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Shaun Marcum (10-3, 3.50 ERA) vs. Mets RH Mike Pelfrey (6-9, 4.58 ERA)
After securing three straight wins, Marcum has followed that up with three consecutive no-decisions. On Sunday, the 29-year-old permitted one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings, but was unable to record his 11th victory of the season in an eventual 2-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marcum pitched well in his lone career outing against the Mets on June 7, scattering two hits over six scoreless innings. Again, he settled for a no-decision.
Like Marcum, Pelfrey has also settled for his fair share of no-decisions as of late. Unlike the Brewers' hurler, however, Pelfrey has just one win in his last five weeks. The 27-year-old Ohio native left Saturday's start after being struck by a line drive. He returned three days later to test his bruised right elbow - without issue. Pelfrey has split a pair of career outings against Milwaukee, but settled for a no-decision versus the Brewers on June 8. In that outing, he yielded two runs on four hits in six innings.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (73-52): All-Star second baseman Rickie Weeks took some light batting practice on Thursday. Weeks is sidelined with a severely sprained left ankle and isn't expected to return to the lineup until September. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt followed up a sizzling July with a brutal stretch in August. He is 3-for-23 in his last seven games. Conversely, Ryan Braun went 11-for-24 with two homers during the team's seven-game homestand. Braun is 3-for-6 in his career against Pelfrey, while Betancourt has failed to collect a hit in two at-bats versus the hurler. Rodriguez has posted a 2-0 mark with a slim 2.03 ERA in 14 appearances with Milwaukee.
ABOUT THE METS (60-63): Injured shortstop Jose Reyes (hamstring) is expected to test his legs on Friday. He will run for team trainers in hopes of clearing the way for his return to action on Tuesday. Speaking of injuries, infielder Justin Turner is nursing an ailing right hip flexor. He's sat out three games over the last week, but is expected to play on Friday. David Wright extended his modest hitting streak to four games by belting his 10th homer of the season in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the Padres. Wright will look to keep his hot streak going against Marcum, whom he has never faced.
FINAL PITCH: While the Brewers have posted a league-best 47-16 mark at home, the Mets are not giving their fans in Queens many thrills this season. New York has dropped seven of its last 10 and boasts a paltry 25-32 mark at Citi Field in 2011.