Today's Matchup: Milwaukee (Estrada) vs. Houston (Keuchel)

Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 4.66) has had an up and down rookie season in 2012. He started off great after being called up for a June 17 start, with a 1.35 ERA through his first three starts, allowing just one run in each game. That took him into July, where he was dreadful. In four starts that month, Keuchel posted a 10.42 ERA with an opponent OPS of 1.119. He started pitching better again in August. He went at least six innings in each of his first three starts and gave up three, two, and two earned runs, respectively. He reverted back to his July ways his next couple of starts, though. On August 23 he allowed five earned runs in four innings to the Cardinals, then gave up four earned runs in five innings to the Giants on August 29.

Keuchel has been better again lately. Over his first three starts in September, he has given up just one earned run in each. However, he has not been able to consistently pitch deep into games. Over his last five starts, only one has gone longer than 5.1 innings.

Overall on the season, Keuchel has a 3.90 K/9 and a 4.12 BB/9. His FIP stands at 5.37 with an xFIP of 5.10. Keuchel has drastic home/road splits, with a 2.95 ERA and .684 opponent OPS at home and a 9.45 ERA and .995 opponent OPS on the road.

Keuchel throws five pitches, primarily: An 88 MPH two-seamer (35%), an 88 MPH four-seamer (21%), a 76 MPH changeup (17%), a 72 MPH curveball (15%), and an 85 MPH cutter (12%). Keuchel has yet to face a Brewers hitter at least ten times.

For the Brewers, Marco Estrada (4-7, 3.87) will seek to bounce back from a dreadful last outing. Five days ago, Estrada gave up seven runs (six earned) in 4 innings against the Nationals. He allowed eight hits and two walks while striking out three in what was without a doubt his worst start of the season. It was awful timing as the Brewers had been close to catching up to the Cardinals in the wild card chase. Now, Estrada gets another start with the season hanging by a thread.

Estrada has not yet faced an Astros hitter at least ten times.

Here's tonight's lineup:

Norichika Aoki RF
Rickie Weeks 2B
Ryan Braun LF
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Corey Hart 1B
Jonathan Lucroy C
Carlos Gomez CF
Jean Segura SS
Marco Estrada P

In the bullpen:

Kameron Loe pitched one inning (15 pitches) yesterday.
Jim Henderson pitched one inning (13 pitches) Thursday and one inning (11 pitches) yesterday.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched one inning (19 pitches) yesterday and has appeared in three straight games.
Brandon Kintzler pitched .2 innings (18 pitches) Thuesday
John Axford pitched .2 innings (22 pitches) Thursday.
Jim Henderson pitched one inning (13 pitches) Thursday.
Jose Veras pitched one inning (22 pitches) on Wednesday.
Manny Parra and Josh Stinson last pitched on Monday.
Tyler Thornburg and Livan Hernandez last pitched on Saturday.