Cardinals at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have cranked up the bats over the past two weeks and look to post another strong offensive performance when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. The Brewers rolled to a 11-3 win in the opener of a four-game series and have scored nine or more runs in five of their last 12 contests.
Eric Thames drove in three runs while Travis Shaw and Jesus Aguilar recorded two RBIs apiece to pace Milwaukee's 12-hit attack on Thursday, but center fielder Lorenzo Cain departed with a hamstring injury and is questionable for Friday. Aguilar is in the midst of a six-game hot stretch during which he is 9-for-21 with three homers and 10 RBIs. St. Louis is sliding in the wrong direction with seven setbacks in its last nine games and 10 in the past 16. Matt Carpenter homered in the opener and has gone deep five times with eight RBIs over his last seven contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Junior Guerra (3-5, 2.89)
Flaherty has allowed fewer than two runs in six of his nine starts this season. The 22-year-old has struck out 55 batters in 50 2/3 innings, topped by a career-best 13 in a victory over Philadelphia on May 20. Flaherty is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers, including a no-decision on April 3 in which he gave up one run and six hits with nine strikeouts in five frames.
Guerra is winless in his last six turns despite allowing three runs or fewer in each outing. The 33-year-old is holding opponents to a .220 batting average and has given up fewer than five hits in seven of his 13 turns. Guerra is 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals this season and 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in six career outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cardinals made four errors in the series opener to help the Brewers score six unearned runs.
2. Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun (thumb) sat out the opener after undergoing a cryotherapy injection to relieve nerve pain on Wednesday.
3. St. Louis placed Michael Wacha (oblique) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP John Grant from Triple-A Memphis.