Game Preview/Thread #-5: Brewers (10-16) @ A's (12-12)

Broadcast info: Today's game can be heard on WTMJ.

Here's a chance to talk about something besides Kyle Lohse for a while.

The Brewers play their second-to-last Cactus League home game today at Phoenix Municipal Stadium where they'll face 39-year-old Dominican native Bartolo Colon (7.36 ERA this spring, 3.43/3.83 ERA/FIP in 2012) and the A's. Colon is making his fifth official appearance of the spring and his first since March 15, when he allowed two runs on six hits over four innings against the Diamondbacks.

Colon turns 40 in May, and he and Andy Pettitte appear poised to be the only starting pitchers over age 40 to appear in a major league game this season. He's 89th on baseball's all-time list with 1833 strikeouts, and 52nd with 294 home runs allowed.

Despite his advanced age Colon's fastball was still clocked around 90 a year ago, and he threw it nearly 90% of the time. He hasn't faced the Brewers in a regular season game since 2002, when he was a member of the Expos. He also faced the Brewers once back in 1997, when they were still an AL team.

He'll face Chris Narveson (3.14 ERA this spring, 7.00/6.21 ERA/FIP in 2012), who is much younger. Narveson was excellent against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing a single hit while pitching six shutout innings without a walk. He struck out four in that game.

Despite recent events, Narveson is likely all but assured a spot in the Opening Day rotation. If he were to make 20 starts this season he'd pass Bob McClure, Manny Parra and Juan Nieves to become the ninth most-used lefty starter in Brewer franchise history.

Narveson has never faced the A's in the regular season.

Here's today's lineup:

Norichika Aoki CF
Jonathan Lucroy C
Rickie Weeks 2B
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Alex Gonzalez SS
Logan Schafer RF
Khris Davis LF
Blake Lalli 1B
Chris Narveson P

The weather in Phoenix is nice. Again.

Enjoy the game!