By my count the Brewers haven't swept a four game series, home or away, since doing it against the Cardinals in St. Louis on July 21-25, 2008. They have a chance to do it again tonight in the series finale against the Marlins.
To do it they'll have to beat Javier Vazquez (6.02 ERA, 4.91 FIP), who is having a rough season. Through eleven starts in 2011 Vazquez is on pace to set new career highs in both WHIP (1.543) and walks per nine innings (4.2). He has, however, been better lately: He has a 2.84 ERA and has lasted six innings or more in each of his last three starts. He pitched six innings against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
When Vazquez is on he has four good pitches: A high 80's fastball, slider, curve and changeup. FanGraphs says all four have been above average for his career, but only the slider (+2.23 runs per 100) and curve (+0.87) have been so this season.
Vazquez has faced the Brewers 16 times in his career, but only twice since 2005. Three Brewers have seen him ten times or more:
| Player | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Mark Kotsay | 44 | .237 | .341 | .395 | .736 |
| Craig Counsell | 32 | .300 | .323 | .633 | .956 |
| Yuniesky Betancourt | 11 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 |
Vazquez will face Zack Greinke (5.29 ERA, 2.73 FIP). I'm not sure what I can tell you about Greinke that we haven't already said lately. He beat the Reds on Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and a season-high three walks over six innings while striking out six. On the season he's walked six batters and struck out 45.
Greinke has faced the Marlins twice in his career but not since 2008. Omar Infante is the only current Marlin who's faced Greinke ten times or more, and he's 0-for-13 with a pair of strikeouts. Only Josh Hamilton (0-for-16 with a walk) has more career at bats against Greinke without a hit.
Tonight's lineup:
2B Rickie Weeks
CF Nyjer Morgan
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
3B Casey McGehee
RF Mark Kotsay
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
C Jonathan Lucroy
P Zack Greinke
And in the bullpen:
John Axford pitched one inning (17 pitches) yesterday and has pitched in three straight games.
Kameron Loe pitched 1 inning (14 pitches) yesterday and also pitched on Saturday.
LaTroy Hawkins pitched .1 innings (8 pitches) yesterday and also pitched on Saturday.
Zach Braddock faced one batter (one pitch) yesterday and also pitched on Saturday.
Marco Estrada pitched 1.2 innings (27 pitches) yesterday.
Tim Dillard pitched 1.2 innings (14 pitches) yesterday.
Sergio Mitre last pitched on Friday.
And now, weather: It's another beautiful day for baseball in Florida. Game time temp should be around 84 and dropping into the 70's as the game goes along. No precipitation is in the forecast.