Brewers at Giants
The Milwaukee Brewers have been red-hot as they continue their pursuit of a postseason spot, but they'll need to figure out a way to overcome their struggles at AT&T Park as they begin a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday. Milwaukee has won six of its last seven overall contests but has dropped 35 of its 55 games in San Francisco - including nine of the last 10.
The Brewers remained two games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central but gained ground in the wild-card race on Sunday, climbing within 2 1/2 of Arizona for the second spot with an 8-4 triumph at Colorado. Jesus Aguilar, who went homerless in 58 at-bats over the previous three seasons with Cleveland, recorded his second two-homer performance of 2017 in the victory, giving him three in his last two games and 14 on the year for Milwaukee. While the Brewers continue their nine-game road trip after taking two of three in Colorado, San Francisco resumes a seven-game homestand that began with a split of a four-game set against Philadelphia. The Giants outscored the Phillies 15-6 in winning the first two contests before dropping the next two, including a 5-2 setback on Sunday.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (14-6, 4.26 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Stratton (1-2, 4.91)
Davies is coming off a strong outing on Tuesday in which he allowed one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings in a victory over Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old native of Washington has been superb on the road this season, posting a 7-0 record and 2.52 ERA in 12 outings. Davies, who has gone 2-0 while giving up one unearned run over 21 2/3 frames over his last three turns away from home, will be facing San Francisco for the first time.
Stratton will be making his fourth start of the season - and the fourth of his career - after posting his first win of 2017 on Aug. 13. The 26-year-old from Mississippi registered 10 strikeouts while scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Washington for his first major-league triumph as a starter. Stratton made a relief appearance against Milwaukee last season, giving up one hit and one walk over two scoreless frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers 2B Jonathan Villar is 11-for-27 with a pair of three-hit efforts over his last seven contests.
2. San Francisco C Buster Posey is riding a five-game hitting streak during which he has gone 8-for-19 while recording three two-hit performances.
3. Milwaukee RHP Corey Knebel fanned the only batter he faced Sunday for his 99th strikeout of the season, eclipsing the previous franchise record for a reliever set in 1991 by Julio Machado.