Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2011 ) Milwaukee 2, San Francisco 4

THE STORY: The Milwaukee Brewers wrap up their season-long 11-game road trip when they conclude their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. The Brewers, who are 5-5 on the three-city trip, fell into a virtual tie with St. Louis for first place in the NL Central after losing 4-2 to the Giants on Saturday. San Francisco remained four games ahead of Arizona in the NL West with the win.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (11-6, 3.96 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (5-9, 3.72 ERA)

Gallardo gave up three runs – one earned – over six innings last Tuesday against Arizona. He is 5-2 with a 3.02 ERA in seven career starts against the Giants, including a 6-0 win on May 29 at Miller Park when he threw eight scoreless innings.

Bumgarner gave up three runs in eight innings and retired the final 16 batters he faced last Tuesday against the Dodgers. He is 1-1 with a 1.32 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (54-48): Corey Hart isn’t reminding anyone of Jose Reyes, but he’s doing enough in the leadoff spot for manager Ron Roenicke, who said he plans to leave Hart in the leadoff spot for the forseeable future. With Hart batting leadoff, Rickie Weeks has moved to the fifth spot. Prince Fielder could get the day off Sunday after continuing to struggle since the All-Star break. The All-Star MVP went 0-for-4 Saturday and is 6-for-35 since the break. Fielder is the Brewers’ only player to appear in every game, but Roenicke has hinted that he might sit Fielder against the lefty Bumgarner. Another player who could get a break Sunday is Nyger Morgan, who could sit in favor of Brett Carroll in center field. Carroll was called up from the minors after Carlos Gomez broke his clavicle earlier this week.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (58-43): San Francisco skipped Barry Zito’s scheduled start against the Brewers on Friday, but he’ll rejoin the rotation Wednesday in Philadelphia. Zito gave up eight runs over 3 2/3 innings in his last start, but the Giants like the idea of having the lefty Zito pitch between right-handers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain against the Phillies. The Giants will miss both Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee in the three-game series in Philadelphia. Starter Jonathan Sanchez (biceps tendinitis) gave up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight over five innings on a rehab start with Triple-A Fresno on Friday. He will make at least one more rehab start, although it’s not clear if he’ll rejoin the rotation when he returns. As good as the Giants’ starting pitching has been, the bullpen has been just as sharp. Five relievers combined to pitch four hitless innings against the Brewers on Saturday.

FINAL PITCH: The Brewers are 8-1 in Gallardo’s last nine starts against a team with a winning record.