Mets at Brewers
After soaring to a three-game sweep over Arizona to begin their homestand, the Milwaukee Brewers landed with a thud in their series opener against the New York Mets. Milwaukee looks to bounce back Friday as it continues the four-game set a day after managing only five singles in a 5-0 loss to New York.
Ryan Braun recorded one of those hits in his first game following a stint on the disabled list due to a back ailment, but Zach Davies' return from a shoulder injury was far from successful as he yielded four runs and six hits in four innings. The Mets pounded out 13 hits as they began their eight-game road trip in strong fashion, with Brandon Nimmo falling a home run shy of the cycle as he went 4-for-4 with a walk and scored twice. The 25-year-old Nimmo is 6-for-7 over his last two contests after going 0-for-7 in his previous two games. New York had lost two straight prior to Thursday, scoring one run in each defeat, and dropped three of its previous four on the road.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (4-1, 2.91 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (3-3, 2.98)
Syndergaard has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last nine starts after yielding four in his season debut. The 25-year-old Texan, who hasn't started on the road since April 26 in St. Louis, limited Arizona to one run over seven innings in a victory on Sunday. Syndergaard has been dominant against Milwaukee in his career, going 2-0 with a 0.49 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in three starts.
Guerra appears to have overcome a pair of rough starts to start the month, allowing three runs over 10 1/3 innings while going 1-0 in his last two turns. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has struggled at home, however, surrendering nine runs over 10 frames in back-to-back losses after giving up one unearned run across 10 2/3 innings in his first two outings of 2018 at Miller Park. Guerra has permitted one run over 12 2/3 frames while going 1-0 in two career starts against New York.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nimmo enters Friday having reached safely in eight consecutive plate appearances.
2. To make room on the roster for Braun and Davies, the Brewers optioned RHP Brandon Woodruff and 1B Ji-Man Choi to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
3. Milwaukee has been shut out a major league-high nine times this season.