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Fun fact: A few hours from now we'll forget the Brewers' spring training record and it's likely no one will ever mention it again.
It's also the last Cactus League game for the Rockies, who will send 27-year-old righty Nick Schmidt (0.00 ERA this spring, did not pitch in majors in 2012) to the mound for just the second time. He pitched a single inning against the A's on March 2 in his only other major league appearance of the spring.
Schmidt was the Padres' first round pick in the 2007 draft, but has posted a 4.52 ERA over five minor league seasons while appearing in just 26 games above A-ball. He posted a 4.35 ERA last season between AA Tulsa and AAA Colorado Springs, striking out 120 in 147 innings of work.
John Sickels listed 37 Rockies prospects in his 2013 Baseball Prospect Book, but Schmidt wasn't one of them.
He'll face new Brewer Kyle Lohse (first appearance in 2013, 2.86/3.51 ERA/FIP in 2012) in his debut appearance. Lohse just signed a new contract on Monday, but apparently worked to get himself ready for the season by pitching for community college hitters. He threw a bullpen session on Tuesday.
If you don't look at the advanced stats or history, Lohse seems like a great get for the Brewers. He was 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA a year ago, and threw 211 innings. I think we've covered all of the caveats to those numbers already, so I'll just leave it at that for now.
Lohse faced the Rockies twice a year ago and allowed a combined seven runs on 18 hits over 13.1 innings, walking four and striking out nine. Both of those games were in July, and the Cardinals won them both.
Mike Vassallo reports that Marco Estrada, John Axford and Jim Henderson are all pitching in minor league camp today, and the pitchers that will follow Lohse to the mound are all minor leaguers.
Here's today's lineup:
Carlos Gomez CF
Jean Segura SS
Jonathan Lucroy C
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Yuniesky Betancourt 2B
Logan Schafer RF
Khris Davis LF
Blake Lalli 1B
Kyle Lohse P
With everyone being eager to get out of Arizona, don't be surprised if the first six batters in the lineup all come out after 1-2 at bats.
The last day in Arizona will be more of the same weather-wise, with a game-time temperature in the mid-80's rising slightly through the afternoon.
Enjoy the game!