Brewers at Cardinals
Things have gone downhill in a hurry for the Milwaukee Brewers, but they look to begin a turnaround when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday for the opener of a three-game series. Milwaukee began the season by sweeping a three-game set in San Diego but went 2-5 on a homestand that concluded with Sunday's 3-0 setback against the Chicago Cubs.
It was the third shutout loss in five games for the Brewers, who managed only three hits - including a pair of singles by Lorenzo Cain. The 31-year-old center fielder matched his hit total from the previous six games after going 8-for-14 in the series against the Padres. St. Louis dropped two of three to Arizona in its first home series of 2018, including a 4-1 decision on Sunday in which Kolten Wong recorded two of the team's five hits and drove in the lone run. It was the first RBI of the season for the 27-year-old Hawaiian, who went 1-for-18 over his first seven games - with the only hit coming during the Cardinals' three-game set at Milwaukee last week in which they won twice.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (0-1, 7.00 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (1-0, 6.35)
Chacin has struggled out of the gate, surrendering 10 runs and 14 hits in nine innings over his first two starts. The 30-year-old Venezuelan looks to avenge a home loss to St. Louis on Wednesday in which he was tagged for six runs - three earned - and seven hits in 5 2/3 frames. Chacin has yet to defeat the Cardinals in his career, going 0-6 with a 5.89 ERA in six starts and a relief appearance.
Mikolas, who went 2-5 with a 6.44 ERA in 10 starts for Texas in 2014, is back in the majors after spending the last three seasons in Japan as he signed a two-year contract with St. Louis in December. The 29-year-old Floridian yielded four runs and seven hits - three homers - in 5 2/3 innings at Milwaukee on April 2 in his Cardinals debut but picked up the win as he helped himself at the plate by belting a two-run shot. It was the second career appearance against the Brewers for Mikolas, who worked two scoreless frames of relief at Milwaukee on Oct. 2, 2012 while with San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers have committed a major league-high 14 errors this season, including seven in the four-game set against Chicago.
2. Milwaukee placed OF Christian Yelich (oblique) on the 10-day disabled list Sunday and recalled RHP Taylor Williams from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
3. St. Louis placed LHP Ryan Sherriff (toe) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP John Brebbia from Triple-A Memphis.