Tonight's Matchup: Brewers (Marcum) at Padres (Volquez)

After an amazing game from Ryan Braun yesterday, the Brewers play another late-night game tonight as they face the Padres in the second game of the series.

Shaun Marcum (4.13 ERA, 3.70 FIP) takes the mound tonight for the Brewers. He has bounced back from his troubles last season and has put up solid starts for the Brewers, but he hasn't been overwhelming. He put up quality starts in his first three starts, but fell short of that in his last start against the Astros. In five innings, he allowed four runs (three earned) and allowed eight hits and four walks while striking out seven. He did not receive a decision after that start as the Brewers went on to lose the game.

Shaun Marcum is on the road tonight, where he has been better. In two starts on the road this season, Marcum has posted a 3.46 ERA and 3.66 FIP, compared to a 4.91 ERA and 4.41 FIP at home. Last season, he had a 2.21 ERA and 3.69 FIP on the road, while he had a 4.81 ERA and 4.04 FIP at home. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is also higher on the road (6.00 K/BB in 2012, 3.57 K/BB in 2011) compared to his rate at home (2.00 K/BB in 2012, 2.24 K/BB in 2011).

Only Jason Bartlett has faced Shaun Marcum ten or more times. He has posted a .211/.250/.263/.513 line in twenty plate appearances against Marcum.

On the Padres side, starting tonight is Edinson Volquez (3.60 ERA, 3.48 FIP). The Brewers are familiar with Volquez after his years spent with the Cincinnati Reds. He was acquired in the offseason from Cincinnati in the deal that sent Mat Latos to the Reds. He has had an up and down career. He began his career in Texas, but it didn't get going until he was traded to the Reds before the 2008 season. In that season, he put up a 3.21 ERA and 3.60 FIP, and was fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. He made nine starts in 2009 before missing the rest of the season and part of the 2010 season after Tommy John surgery. He struggled after his return in 2010, and continued pitching trouble in 2011 resulted in him being demoted to Triple-A for part of the season.

Edinson Volquez primarily throws four pitches: a four-seam fastball (41.0%, 93.1 MPH), a changeup (28.6%, 83.6 MPH), a curveball (19.7%, 78.1 MPH) and a sinker (9.3%, 93.6 MPH). He had been using his sinker more often over the last two seasons (21.0% and 17.6%), but has used it less this year. His most effective pitch over his career has been his changeup.

Five Brewers have faced Volquez ten times or more, and have put up good results.

Norichika Aoki gets the start tonight in center field. Here is the rest of the starting lineup.

Rickie Weeks 2B
Norichika Aoki CF
Ryan Braun LF
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Corey Hart RF
Mat Gamel 1B
Alex Gonzalez SS
Jonathan Lucroy C
Shaun Marcum RHP

In the bullpen:

Kameron Loe pitched 2 innings (21 pitches) yesterday, and also pitched on Sunday and Saturday.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched 1 innin (17 pitches) yesterday, and also pitched on Sunday.
Tim Dillard pitched 1 inning (14 pitches) yesterday.
Jose Veras pitched .2 innings (15 pitches) Sunday, and also pitched on Satuday.
John Axford pitched 1 inning (17 pitches) Sunday.
Manny Parra pitched 2 innings (30 pitches) on Friday.
Vinnie Chulk is also in the bullpen.