Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to interleague play.
The Brewers may or may not have picked the correct time to open a three game series against the Twins. On the bright side, the Twins are returning home from a 1-6 road trip. On the flip side, the only win was yesterday, when they blasted the White Sox 20-1. Tonight, they send Kevin Slowey to the mound: He's 5-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 2009, and has picked up the win in four of his last six starts, posting a 3.44 ERA in the process. The home run ball has been his undoing in 2009: He's allowed a home run in each of his last three starts, and his 8 total long balls are the seventh most in the AL.
The Brewers will send Manny Parra (3-4, 4.57) to the mound. Parra has won each of his last three starts and posted a 3.50 ERA over that time despite walking 10 batters in 18 innings. He's never lost a game in interleague play, going 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three games.
Mat Gamel is expected to make his first of three straight starts at DH tonight, and Casey McGehee is back in the lineup, this time at third base:
2B Craig Counsell
SS JJ Hardy
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
CF Mike Cameron
RF Corey Hart
DH Mat Gamel
3B Casey McGehee
C Jason Kendall
LHP Manny Parra
And in the bullpen:
Seth McClung (1 inning yesterday) has pitched in two straight games.
Carlos Villanueva pitched one inning yesterday.
Todd Coffey pitched one inning yesterday.
Trevor Hoffman pitched one inning yesterday.
Jorge Julio has not pitched since Wednesday.
Mark DiFelice has not pitched since Monday.
Mitch Stetter has not pitched since Monday.
R.J. Swindle joined the team today, and has not pitched since Sunday.
Friday's game thread is now open.