With a win today and some help, the Brewers could pass the Rockies and Mariners for sole possession of second place in the Cactus League.
Follow the jump for today's pitching matchup, lineup and more!
Today is a pretty big day for Wily Peralta (4.66 ERA this spring, 3.79 ERA in the minors in 2010), the favorite to open the season as the #5 starter. This is his fifth appearance of the spring but his first start. He pitched 3.2 innings in relief of Takashi Saito on Sunday, allowing a run on five hits with a walk and a strikeout.
John Sickels rated Peralta as a "B-" prospect in his Baseball Prospect Book 2011. Here's an excerpt from his scouting report:
Peralta has a fastball that hits 95 on his best days, though he often works in the 89-93 range. He has a good slider and made strides improving his changeup last year, although it is still erratic.
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Although he was used as a starter last year, I still wonder if Peralta might be better off in the bullpen. As a starter, he projects as a number four rotation guy.
Peralta was scheduled to face former Brewer Jorge De La Rosa, but the Rockies are starting Greg Reynolds (5.02 ERA this spring, 4.74 ERA in the minors in 2010) instead. Despite a relatively forgettable season in the minors in 2010, Reynolds leads the Rockies with 14.1 innings pitched this spring.
Reynolds was a top prospect in the Colorado organization for a while, and appeared in Baseball America's top 100 in 2007 and 2008. He missed most of the 2009 season, though, and his strikeout numbers were down in his return in 2010. Reynolds will turn 26 in July and has yet to make his major league debut.
Rickie Weeks 2B
Carlos Gomez CF
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Casey McGehee 3B
Mark Kotsay RF
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
George Kottaras C
Wily Peralta P
Peralta will likely get an at bat today, and that could be interesting: Counting one PA this spring, he has a grand total of 14 in 4+ professional seasons.
Weather:
I'm running out of ways to tell you it's going to be hot in Arizona. Game time temp today should be in the low 80's, climbing into the mid-80's as the day goes along.
Coverage:
No radio or TV today, but Gameday Audio does have a free webcast.
Enjoy the game!