Nationals at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers did not resemble a team that had lost eight of nine in the series opener and hope to post back-to-back victories for the first time in over two weeks when they host the Washington Nationals on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Milwaukee began its seven-game homestand by losing two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers but rolled to a 6-1 triumph over Washington on Monday.
Jhoulys Chacin recorded nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings and helped himself at the plate with an RBI single. Erik Kratz drove in two runs without registering a hit while Christian Yelich ripped a three-run triple for the Brewers, who haven't won consecutive games since capturing five in a row from July 2-6. Daniel Murphy homered and Anthony Rendon notched two of the five hits registered in the series opener by Washington, which has lost four of its last six contests. Rendon is riding an 11-game hitting streak during which he has collected 10 RBIs.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.29 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (6-6, 3.23)
After escaping with a no-decision against Miami at home after being pounded for nine runs in four innings, Hellickson has put together back-to-back superb starts on the road. The 31-year-old native of Iowa allowed one run and four hits over 11 frames in victories at Pittsburgh and the New York Mets to improve to 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA in nine turns away from home this year. Hellickson has made six career starts against Milwaukee, going 3-1 with a 4.09 ERA.
Guerra (forearm) is expected to be activated from the disabled list to make his first start since July 13, when he surrendered six runs and nine hits over four innings in a loss at Pittsburgh. The 33-year-old Venezuelan, who won his previous three turns, owns a 2.55 ERA at home against a 4.30 mark on the road. Guerra has made one start and one relief appearance against Washington in his career, going 1-0 while allowing two runs over 8 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers 1B Jesus Aguilar (hamstrings) was kept out of the starting lineup in the series opener and is day-to-day.
2. Murphy has gone 5-for-13 during his four-game hitting streak.
3. Milwaukee placed LHP Brent Suter (elbow), who is in need of Tommy John surgery, on the 10-day disabled list on Monday and recalled RHP Jorge Lopez from Triple-A Colorado Springs.