Lowly Milwaukee Brewers Look to Sweep Washington Nationals
The National League Central Milwaukee Brewers are in the nation’s capital to face the National League East leading Washington Nationals on Wednesday. The current line has Washington favored at -170, with Milwaukee at +155 and the over/under run total on 8.5.
Entering this game, Milwaukee has a record of 37-46 overall and 15-26 on the road. The Brewers are 4-6 over their past 10 games played. Washington on the season is 50-35 overall and 26-15 at home. The Nationals are 7-3 in their past 10 games played.
Milwaukee will send Matt Garza to the mound on Wednesday. The Brewers right-hander is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.75. Washington will counter with Tanner Roark. The Nationals right-hander is 7-4 with an ERA of 2.93.
Garza had a poor outing in his last appearance. He suffered a loss to St. Louis in just the fourth start for him of the season. Garza however defeated the Nationals June 25 with 6 strong innings and is 1-4 with an ERA of 7.01 versus Washington in his career.
Roark has pitched seven or more innings in each of his past three starts. However, after allowing two runs and eight innings last Friday versus Cincinnati he had a no-decision. Roark is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.42 in four appearances including 3 starts versus the Brewers.
Milwaukee is nine games below the .500 mark yet are making things difficult for the NL East leaders. The visitors have won four of five versus Washington over the last 12 days and look for a sweep of this three-game set with a win today.
The Brewers came into Washington with a losing streak of four-games but won the series opener 1-0 and were victorious in the second game Tuesday by a score of 5-2. Hernan Perez and Aaron Hill each hit two-run home runs in Tuesday’s game for the Brewers.
On Tuesday, Danny Espinosa had two hits in four at bats for the Nationals. Espinoza was just named the NL Player of the Week for last week after hitting .423 including 5 home runs and 17 runs batted in. The Nationals have four players on the NL All-Star team including Wilson Ramos their starting catcher.
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy, pitcher Stephen Strasburg and Ramos will represent the Nationals in next week’s All-Star Game.
Jonathan Lucroy a catcher for Milwaukee is the lone Brewers’ player in the All-Star Game.
Prediction: Brewers are on a roll, lean on Milwaukee.
