Think back for a moment to Friday, March 9. The Brewers beat the Indians that day to improve to 3-2 on the spring. They lost both halves of a split-squad doubleheader the next day and haven't been above .500 since. Today, they get a chance to climb back above the break-even point.
It's Zack Greinke vs Gavin Floyd at 2:05, and you can listen live via Gameday Audio at Brewers.com.
Follow the jump for today's pitching matchup and lineup, then join us in the comments to discuss today's game!
Gavin Floyd (6.32 ERA this spring, 4.37/3.81 ERA/FIP in 2011) might be the best pitcher on this White Sox team now that Mark Buehrle is in Florida, but has been passed over in favor of John Danks for the Opening Day nod. Floyd has only pitched in three major league games this spring, and gave up eight runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings against the Rockies on Wednesday.
Floyd has been a full time major leaguer for four seasons now and posted an ERA right around four in roughly 200 innings in each of those years. He throws a low-90's fastball but relies heavily on a cutter and curve, along with an occasional changeup. The cutter is easily his best pitch.
Floyd hasn't faced the Brewers since having two rough starts against them as a Phillie in 2006.
He'll face Zack Greinke (0.93 ERA this spring, 3.83/2.98 ERA/FIP in 2011), who really has nothing left to prove in Arizona. Greinke has allowed just two earned runs and struck out 28 in 19.1 innings this spring. He was excellent against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing a run on five hits and striking out eight over seven innings.
Since Greinke already pitched seven innings in his last start, don't be surprised if the Brewers back him off a bit today. He's probably already stretched out, so if he can get through 3-4 innings on 60 pitches the team probably has to consider getting him out of there, wrapping him in bubble wrap and sending him back to Milwaukee.
Greinke didn't face the White Sox last year, but did see them 24 times during the regular season over his years as a Royal. Those numbers are so irrelevant I won't even post them here.
Here's today's lineup:
Norichika Aoki LF
Nyjer Morgan RF
Carlos Gomez CF
Mat Gamel DH
Travis Ishikawa 1B
Jonathan Lucroy C
Brooks Conrad 3B
Cesar Izturis SS
Scooter Gennett 2B
Enjoy the game!