Best case scenario: The Brewers look pretty good in Arizona this weekend and give us some hope for the future, plus momentum to carry into Chicago.
Worst case scenario: If the Brewers are swept this weekend and the Cardinals sweep Atlanta, the Brewers would be eliminated from contention in the NL Central before facing the Cubs Monday.
Which will it be? Follow the jump for today's pitching matchup and conversation on tonight's game!
Doug Davis (7-12, 3.81) will be the ninth pitcher with an ERA under four the Brewers have faced in the last ten days. He leads the National League with 87 walks allowed, but has otherwise been very consistent: He's lasted at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts, and qualified for a quality start in all eight of them. Davis is facing the Brewers for the first time in 2009. Mike Cameron is expected to be back in the lineup tonight, and his return is coming at the perfect time: He's faced Davis 62 times in his career and hit .327/.435/.592 off of him.
Braden Looper (11-6, 4.77) has had a couple of good outings lately to bring his season line closer to what the Brewers probably expected from him, and make it more likely the Brewers will exercise his option for 2010. He's posted a 3.24 ERA in his last four starts and has done a better-than-normal job of keeping the ball in the park, allowing just three home runs in 25 innings. Over an average 25 inning stretch this season, he's allowed about five. His 33 home runs allowed still lead the NL, and he's three away from tying Wayne Franklin's franchise record.
With yesterday's off day, everyone in the bullpen has had at least one day of rest, and should be ready to go.
Enjoy the game!