Gamethread #62: Rangers (33-28) at Brewers (26-35)

If the Brewers sweep the Rangers, sweep the Angels, then sweep the Rockies and win the first game against the Twins, they will be back at .500. Hope!

The jump. Follow it.

Manny Parra (1-3, 3.96) is probably the Brewers second best starting pitcher right now. He has an FIP of 4.16 and an xFIP of 3.97. He's still walking a lot of batters (4.71 BB/9) but has brought up his strikeout numbers from last year (9.17 K/9 in 2010 up from 7.46 in 2009) which is goOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLlllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, I'm watching the World Cup while I write this. I used to play goalkeeper during high school and could have made that save in my sleep. Hell, the England goalie only needed to LAY DOWN to make that save. That was awesome. Anyway, Manny Parra has been good this year. The only Ranger Manny has ever faced is Matt Treanor, who has two PA's against Parra. He's hit .500/.500/.500.

Scott Feldman (3-6, 5.73) (halftime tied at one-all! USA, USA!) is younger than I thought he would be (he's 27). TheJay noted that Feldman was involved in this crazy game against the Red Sox wherein he gave up 12 runs, but did not get the loss, making him the first pitcher to do so since 1918. This year, his FIP is nearly a run lower than his ERA, at 4.77. He isn't walking or striking out a lot of people, but he is giving up plenty of hits. He hasn't faced any current Brewers 10 or more times.

Lucroy is starting again today:

Weeks 2B

Hart RF

Fielder 1B

Braun LF

McGehee 3B

Edmonds CF

Lucroy C

Escobar SS

Parra P