Today's game is on FOX, meaning people who really, really, really wanted to see this Jose Contreras (1-5, 6.45) vs. Manny Parra (3-7, 6.86) matchup but missed the digital TV transition are out of luck. I kid about this pitching matchup, but the two other FOX games aren't much better: Brad Thompson and Tomo Ohka square off in one, while new Met Fernando Nieve takes on Andy Pettitte in the other. Should be an offensive day.
But enough about other games, what's up with this one? The Brewers ended a four-game losing streak last night with a furious sixth-inning rally by the bottom of the order followed by four more runs in the seventh. In the interests of being misleading, I feel obligated to note the Brewers had not won an interleague game in nearly a year. To try and start a winning streak, the Brewers are sending Manny Parra to the mound. Parra, whose BABIP is .357 or .349, depending on who you believe, is coming off a no-decision in Atlanta that saw him last 5 2/3 innings while giving up five runs to Chipper Jones. One thing to watch today: each of his four home starts this year has been a quality start even though he's only 1-2 in Miller Park.
Veteran righthander Jose Contreras toes the rubber for the visiting White Sox, who have now lost 9 of 12. Contreras has been a solid major league pitcher since defecting from Cuba in 2002. This year, however, the wheels fell off early. In the first month of the season, he started six games, going 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. The terrible start earned him a demotion to AAA, where he put up a 2.73 ERA and 1.061 WHIP in five starts. The demotion worked for at least one game as in his first start back in the majors last Monday, he pitched eight innings of one-hit ball. Hopefully that was a one-time deal.
Lineup:
Counsell 2B
Hardy SS
Braun LF
Fielder 1B
Cameron CF
Gamel 3B
Hart RF
Kendall C
Parra P
Bullpen Rundown:
- Trevor Hoffman last pitched one week ago today in Atlanta (11 pitches).
- Mark DiFelice pitched one inning (19 pitches) last night.
Carlos Villanueva pitched one inning (22 pitches) Thursday and has given up five runs over his last two appearances.
Todd Coffey pitched 1 1/3 innings (29 pitches) on Thursday.
Mitch Stetter has faced (and struck out) three batters in the last two games, throwing seven pitches each time. - Seth McClung pitched 1 inning (8 pitches) last night.
Chris Smith pitched 1 inning (29 pitches) on Thursday.