The Brewers are 1-0 this season in games started by Mike Rivera, Alcides Escobar and Jason Bourgeois, and they'll get a chance to make it 2-0 and avoid a sweep in Pittsburgh tonight at 6:05.
Follow the jump for tonight's pitching matchup, lineup and conversation on tonight's game!
Paul Maholm (6-7, 4.93) comes into tonight's game in the NL top five in earned runs allowed (81, 2nd), hits (171, 4th) and wild pitches (11, 1st), and has lost his last three decisions, posting a 7.42 ERA and allowing opposing batters to hit .339/.383/.605 off of him in his last five starts. His downturn started with an appearance against the Brewers on July 22, where he allowed seven earned runs in just 4.2 innings. Mike Cameron is 11-for-26 in his career against Maholm, and has homered three times en route to a .423/.483/.769 line.
Yovani Gallardo (11-9, 3.52) is facing the Pirates for the third time this season, and is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA against them in 15 innings of work in 2009. He appears to have rebounded from a rough patch that saw him lose four out of six decisions in July and early August, and allowed just three hits while striking out seven in six innings of work against the Astros his last time out. With a win tonight, he could become just the eleventh Brewer this decade to win 12 games in a season. Ben Sheets (13 in 2008) and Chris Capuano (18 in 2005) are the only Brewers with more than 12.
Here's tonight's lineup: (h/t McCalvy)
Felipe Lopez 2B
Mike Cameron CF
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Casey McGehee 3B
Mike Rivera C
Jason Bourgeois RF
Yovani Gallardo RHP
Alcides Escobar SS
And in the bullpen:
Mark DiFelice pitched one inning (9 pitches) last night, and also pitched on Sunday and Monday.
Claudio Vargas pitched one inning (21 pitches) last night.Jesus Colome pitched 2 innings (41 pitches) Monday
Todd Coffey pitched one inning (13 pitches) Monday.David Weathers has not pitched since Sunday.
Mitch Stetter has not pitched since Sunday.
Trevor Hoffman has not pitched since Thursday.
Enjoy the game!