Milwaukee @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2011 ) Houston 4, Milwaukee 5
THE STORY: The Milwaukee Brewers seized control of the National League Central with an 8-1 homestand that pushed their league-best home record to 41-15. They now look to improve their disappointing 21-35 road mark when they embark on a six-game trek that begins Friday with the opener of a three-game series against the league-worst Houston Astros. Milwaukee has lost three of its last four on the road and dropped two of three at Houston earlier this season. The Astros have won two of three overall and four of their last five at home.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (12-7, 3.69 ERA) vs. Astros LH JA Happ (4-13, 6.01 ERA).
Gallardo has alternated wins and losses over his last eight starts, including a triumph over Houston on Saturday in which he allowed only an unearned run in seven innings. The 25-year-old Gallardo, who leads the team in victories, is 9-2 in 11 career outings against the Astros and 2-0 this season. Gallardo has won six straight meetings with Houston, each of which came at Miller Park. He is 2-2 lifetime at Minute Maid Park.
Happ suffered his second straight loss Saturday at Milwaukee as he yielded five runs - two earned - and 10 hits in five innings. The performance ended a string of six consecutive starts in which the lefthander surrendered at least five earned runs but puts him in line for the dubious distinction of being the first Astro to allow five runs in eight straight outings. Happ, who has won just one of his last 10 decisions, owns a 4.76 ERA in 11 home outings this season compared to a dismal 7.59 mark in 10 road starts.
ABOUT THE ASTROS (37-74): Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds was a memorable one for a pair of rookies. The reigning Texas League Player of the Month, J.D. Martinez hit his first home run in his fifth major league game since being recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi. The blast helped 20-year-old Jordan Lyles to his first victory in 12 career starts. Clint Barmes may not be in the lineup Friday as he is 0-for-11 over his career against Gallardo.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (62-50): Milwaukee nearly was perfect on its homestand, with its only loss coming in extra innings. The Brewers have lost each of their last four series at Minute Maid Park. Casey McGehee had just one home run in his previous 63 games before belting three against St. Louis on Wednesday. He became the 11th player in franchise history with a three-homer performance. Slugger Ryan Braun is just 1-for-12 lifetime against Happ, with his only hit being a home run.
FINAL PITCH: Milwaukee is continuing a stretch of 18 straight games against division foes. The run began with the first contest of its nine-game homestand, when the club occupied third place in the Central.