Diamondbacks at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are enjoying their perch atop the National League Central and look to clinch a fourth straight series win when they host the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Lorenzo Cain, Travis Shaw and Domingo Santana homered as the Brewers beat the Diamondbacks 4-2 on Monday for their eighth victory in 11 contests.
Milwaukee holds a 1 1/2-game lead in the Central while going 9-2 against teams from the NL West in the early going and owns four more victories (29) than it had at this point last season. Jhoulys Chacin will try to improve on that win total and keep his individual hot streak going when he takes the mound for the Brewers on Tuesday against Matt Koch, who hopes to rebound from his worst start of the year last time out versus Milwaukee. The Diamondbacks struggled offensively again on Monday as they registered just three hits and have managed to score a total of 24 runs during a baffling 1-11 stretch that has wasted a strong start to the campaign. Arizona third baseman Jake Lamb homered in the series opener for his second hit in 10 official at-bats since returning from a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined more than six weeks.
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Matt Koch (2-2, 4.06 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-1, 3.63)
Koch was pounded for eight runs and nine hits - four homers - over 4 1/3 innings against the Brewers on Wednesday after producing five outstanding outings. The 27-year-old Louisville product allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over 33 1/3 frames in five straight quality starts and a scoreless relief appearance to open the season. Shaw is 2-for-3 with a double and a homer versus Koch, who owns a 4.55 ERA at home compared to 2.25 on the road.
Chacin is coming off his best start of the season but did not receive a decision despite limiting Arizona to one run on two hits and two walks over a season-high seven innings last Tuesday. The 30-year-old Venezuelan has permitted fewer than three runs in six of his last seven turns after failing to do so in his first three starts of 2018. David Peralta is 4-for-12 with a homer against Chacin, who is 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 18 career appearances (17 starts) versus the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt went 0-for-3 on Monday and has recorded just four hits in 32 at-bats over his last nine games.
2. Milwaukee 1B Jesus Aguilar went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the series opener after belting four homers in his previous three contests.
3. Diamondbacks OF Steven Souza Jr. struck out as a pinch-hitter on Monday after missing two straight games with a strained right pectoral.