Brewers at Astros
The Houston Astros, runaway leaders of the American League West, step into interleague play when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in the first contest of a two-game set. Houston has won five straight series and is 10-0-1 in its last 11 sets despite missing key regulars such as George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa after taking two of three from Baltimore over the weekend.
The Astros continue to receive key contributions from their call-ups with Yordan Alvarez the latest to deliver. The 21-year-old Cuban, who is 6-5, belted a two-run homer Sunday in his second career at-bat after hitting a minor league-most 23 home runs in 56 games this season with Triple-A Round Rock. Milwaukee, which has won four straight after sweeping three from Pittsburgh, continues to spar with the Chicago Cubs for National League Central supremacy as the clubs have pulled clear from the rest of the division. Houston's Brad Peacock has excelled since going to a full wind-up with the bases empty and Tuesday opposes Freddy Peralta, who is coming off a strong outing in his first start since May 13.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Freddy Peralta (3-2, 5.11 ERA) vs. Astros RH Brad Peacock (5-3, 3.20)
Peralta allowed one run and four hits with nine strikeouts in six innings of a 5-1 victory over Miami on Thursday. The 23-year-old Dominican native was 0-1 and allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings over his previous three appearances - all in relief. Peralta, who has never faced Houston, has struggled early in games this season, yielding a .368 batting average against in pitches 1-15 with three home runs among 14 hits permitted.
Peacock suffered his first loss since changing his delivery with no one on base after allowing two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out six in five innings of a 14-1 loss at Seattle on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Florida native is 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in six starts since making the change with 41 strikeouts in 34 innings during that span. Peacock, who has never faced Milwaukee, had a 5.28 ERA after his first seven games (five starts) this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers RF Christian Yelich has hit eight of his major league-most 24 home runs this season on the first pitch and nine on the second.
2. Houston (45-22) has matched the best start in club history and is 27-8 in its last 35 games.
3. Milwaukee IF Mike Moustakas (20 home runs, 43 RBIs) is 8-for-20 with four homers and six driven in over his last five contests.