Mets at Brewers
Off to the best 50-game start in club history, the Milwaukee Brewers look to keep rolling when they open a four-game series against the visiting New York Mets on Thursday. Milwaukee surged to the top of the National League Central by winning 10 of 13 contests and opened its 10-game homestand with a three-game sweep of Arizona.
The Brewers, who outscored the Diamondbacks 14-4 and are poised to welcome back 17-game winner Kyle Davies and outfielder Ryan Braun from the disabled list on Thursday, are trying not to get too far ahead of themselves. "This is the Cubs' division until someone says otherwise," Milwaukee third baseman Travis Shaw told reporters. "But we feel like we’re in a good spot now. We’re playing good. We’ll try to keep it going this weekend.” New York, which had ripped off four straight victories before dropping its last two to Miami, won two of three from the Brewers last month as part of its 12-2 start to the season. Thursday's matchup marks the start of a rugged eight-game road trip for the Mets, who will play four each at division leaders Milwaukee and Atlanta - the teams with the two best records in the NL.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (1-3, 4.42 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zach Davies (2-3, 4.24)
After putting together back-to-back solid outings, Matz turned in a clunker last time out versus Arizona as he lasted only four innings while giving up four runs and six hits - including two homers. He allowed one run in each of his previous two turns, including a 2-0 loss to Colorado in which he worked a season-high six frames. Matz defeated Davies and Milwaukee on April 13 despite yielding four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Davies has been out since April 29 due to rotator cuff inflammation but was pitching well at the time of his injury, surrendering four runs over 18 innings in a span of three starts. He was rocked in two of his first three turns to open the season, including a 4 1/3-inning outing against the Mets in which he was tagged for five runs and two homers. Asdrubal Cabrera is 5-for-9 versus Davies, but Jay Bruce has recorded just one hit in 15 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers 1B Jesús Aguilar drove in three runs on Wednesday, giving him nine RBIs in his last five games.
2. Mets RHP Jeurys Familia suffered his fourth blown save on Wednesday.
3. Braun (back), who has been out since May 13, was in a 3-for-29 rut at the time of his injury.