The Milwaukee Brewers have seen their season hit a bit of a stall as injuries and suspensions have left the team struggling for offense. Carlos Gomez has been suspended. Aramis Ramirez is currently on the disabled list. Ryan Braun appears to be the only player able to generate some ball movement. However, the Brewers have played well against the Chicago Cubs which could help them gain some momentum.
The Brewers are giving out no run support. Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, they generated just three runs and 11 hits in a 17-innings stretch. They were forced to rally in the ninth innings with two singles in order to get the Thursday win and would like to avoid the late-game dramatics again. The Brewers first place after winning four of their last five games, but they cannot continue this sort of low production.
Braun has been the unsung hero so far with Gomez out. He got the ninth-inning rally going on Thursday and is 3 for 10 in his last three games. He is even better against the Chicago Cubs, going 25 for 48 with five home runs in his last 12 games against the team that cannot seem to rise out of the bottom of the National League rankings.
Jeff Samardzija is taking the mound amid trade rumors. The right handed is currently sitting in second place in the entire league with a 1.45 ERA, but is winless in eight starts. The Cubs offense is clearly worse than the Brewers, generating just a 1.93 run-support average for the pitcher. Samardzija is the first pitcher in the modern era that has given up three runs or fewer in his first eight starts and still remains winless on the year.
Kyle Lohse is starting for Milwaukee and trying to win his fifth consecutive decision. He has not recorded a win in his last three starts after giving up three runs in six innings against the New York Yankees. Traditionally, Lohse has struggled at Wrigley Field, going just 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in his last five starts on the road.
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