The Milwaukee Brewers (52-64) will host the Philadelphia Phillies (54-63) in a four-game series at Miller Park this weekend. The Brewers are coming off an embarrassing series in which the lowly Colorado Rockies swept them. Meanwhile, the Phillies took 2-out-of-3 from the Miami Marlins and have won four out of their last six games.
Thursday August 16, 2012
Marco Estrada (0-5, 4.36 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (2-7, 3.85 ERA)
Marco Estrada is still winless this season in 20 appearances and 14 starts. His best shot at recording his first victory came last week against the Houston Astros, but he blew it by allowing four runs on seven hits in four innings. He struck out 11 batters in his only appearance against the Phillies this season but took a no-decision after surrendering three earned runs.
Cliff Lee has struggled big time this season and his mega contract is turning out to be a bust. The Phillies tried trading him away and when they were unsuccessful in that attempt, they put him on waivers. However, no one claimed Lee so he is still pitching for Philadelphia. Lee has yet to win a game at home this season and struggled in Milwaukee on July 24 in which he allowed six earned runs on 12 hits.
Friday August 17, 2012
Yovani Gallardo (11-8, 3.78 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (6-7, 3.97 ERA)
Yovani Gallardo has won three consecutive decisions while going at least seven innings in all three. After surrendering seven earned runs in a loss to the Washington Nationals on July 26, Gallardo has only given up five runs in his three outings since.
Vance Worley is 4-3 with a 2.59 earned run average in nine starts on the road this season but has not pitched well since coming off the disabled list on June 4. He has allowed eight earned runs on 15 hits in nine innings pitched in his last two starts combined, in which he went 0-1 over that span. Worley gave up three earned runs on 10 hits in a no-decision against Milwaukee earlier this season.
Saturday August 18, 2012
Michael Fiers (6-5, 2.63 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (13-6, 2.91 ERA)
Michael Fiers got lit up in his last outing in which he surrendered eight earned runs on nine hits in two innings pitched. It is unfortunate considering how well he has pitched this season and ironically, his bad outing came against one of the worst teams in all of baseball. The eight earned runs were more than he allowed in 62 innings of work.
Cole Hamels has been fantastic recently as he became the third pitcher in Phillies history to throw back-to-back shutouts. Hamels went 2-0 and did not give up a run over the span of two games. He has been pitching lights out since he signed his huge contract, which is refreshing to see as some players begin to slump.
Sunday August 19, 2012
Randy Wolf (3-9, 6.46 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (5-9, 4.53 ERA)
Randy Wolf has not recorded a win since July 17 and before that, his drought was from April 30. It has been a bad mixture of terrible pitching on his end and the bullpen blowing saves. Also, the offense appears to be non-existent when he is on the mound. He allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in five innings pitched in a loss against the Rockies in his last outing.
Kyle Kendrick’s rocky start against the Atlanta Braves on August 8 looked like it could send him back to the bullpen where he has pitched most of this season. However, he rebounded nicely against the Marlins by not allowing a run on five hits in seven innings for his first win since July 22.
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