Brewers at Mets
Milwaukee welcomes back an old friend to the club as Gio Gonzalez makes his 2019 debut on Sunday when the visiting Brewers try for their sixth straight victory against the New York Mets. Gonzalez, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract on Friday, went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts with Milwaukee down the stretch last season, helping it win the National League Central title.
"He brought some energy today already to the clubhouse," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told reporters about Gonzalez before Saturday's 8-6 victory over New York. "He's well-rested, everybody else isn't." Christian Yelich on Saturday tied a major-league record with his 14th home run before May 1, a mark previously set by Albert Pujols in 2006 and matched by Alex Rodriguez the following year. It was his first blast on the road this season for Yelich (.350), who also stole his 100th career base while going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Steven Matz, who came back strong in his last outing after allowing eight runs - six earned - in his previous turn without recording an out, takes the ball for New York, with manager Mickey Callaway telling reporters: “It’s huge that he didn’t let it affect him. He worked hard between his starts. ... He wiped the slate clean and he got the job done.”
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (2018: 10-11, 4.21 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (2-1, 4.03)
Gonzalez signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees last month and went 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before opting out of the deal. The 33-year-old Floridian gave Milwaukee a huge lift late last season after he was acquired from Washington, where he went 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA in his first 27 outings of 2018. Juan Lagares is batting .413 with a home run and five RBIs in 46 at-bats versus Gonzalez, who is 15-6 with a 2.83 ERA in 26 career starts against the Mets.
Matz allowed one run, three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six innings in a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia on Monday. The 27-year-old New Yorker threw 31 pitches in the 14-3 loss to the Phillies on April 16, allowing four hits (two home runs). Christian Yelich is 4-for-16 versus Matz, who is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA in four career starts versus the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The top of Milwaukee's batting order featuring Lorenzo Cain, Yelich and Mike Moustakas went a combined 8-for-14 on Saturday with three RBIs and five runs scored.
2. New York rookie 1B Pete Alonso on Saturday went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer - his ninth of the season - and is hitting .309 with 24 RBIs.
3. Brewers LHP Josh Hader on Saturday struck out five in two innings to record his sixth save in six chances this season and has struck out 29 batters while walking four in 14 frames.