Can the Brewers take two straight from the lowly Nats? Will Tom Haudricourt make it through another (probably) rainy night without exploding in a fit of weather-fueled rage?
Follow the jump for tonight's pitching matchup and conversation on tonight's game!
John Lannan (8-9, 3.68) is the only Nat who's made 20 starts this season, and leads the team in ERA (3.68), innings pitched (159), and wins (8). He hasn't been very effective in August, allowing a 6.06 ERA in three starts and allowing opposing batters to hit .318/.400/.485. Mike Cameron and Prince Fielder have faced him a combined ten times and gone 1-for-9 with a double and a walk.
Mike Burns (3-4, 5.36) is probably getting his last chance to prove he belongs in the rotation more than Jeff Suppan. He had his best outing of the season last time out, allowing two earned runs on just four hits in seven innings, striking out seven. A quality start today could convince the Brewers to wait a little longer to bring back Jeff Suppan, who is healthy but has been knocked around in two rehab starts. Or, he could pitch like Suppan and the point would be moot.
Tonight's lineup, as tweeted from the Brewers --- hey look who's no longer batting ninth:
Lopez 4
Cameron 8
Braun 7
Fielder 3
McGehee 5
Bourgeois 9
Kendall 2
Escobar 6
Burns 1
In the bullpen tonight:
Mark DiFelice has not pitched since Tuesday.
Claudio Vargas has not pitched since Tuesday.
Todd Coffey pitched two innings (16 pitches) last night.David Weathers has not pitched since Wednesday.
Mitch Stetter has not pitched since Sunday.
Trevor Hoffman pitched one inning (13 pitches) last night.
Chris Narveson has not pitched since throwing 5.2 innings a week ago.
Enjoy the game!