Reds at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers can't get home soon enough after closing out an eight-game road trip with a thud, dropping all three matchups with the San Diego Padres. Losers of five of six, the Brewers have a chance to reclaim some momentum when they open a 10-game homestand with the first of four against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.
Milwaukee's offense finally came alive after scoring one run in its previous two games as Ryan Braun and Yasmani Grandal each homered and had three RBIs in Wednesday's 8-7 loss. "Nothing felt like it went right these three games," manager Craig Counsell said. "But part of it is we’ve got to make things go right." The Brewers have won four of five this season against the Reds, who will not be too eager to hit the road after completing a three-game sweep of American League West-leading Houston. Rookie Nick Senzel and Jesse Winker delivered two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the ninth of Wednesday's 3-2 victory as Cincinnati extended its winning streak to a season high-tying four games.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tanner Roark (4-6, 3.63 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (0-1, 10.29)
After allowing three runs or fewer in all five May starts, Roark has found rougher sledding this month, losing all three starts and surrendering four runs in each. The 32-year-old worked a season-high seven innings last time out versus Texas and was charged with four runs (two earned) and eight hits while not walking a batter for the first time. Braun is 5-for-18 off Roark, who is 4-2 with a 2.96 ERA versus the Brewers after tossing 4 1/3 innings of three-run ball on April 1.
Nelson missed the entire 2018 season while recovering from shoulder surgery and did not make his season debut until earlier this month, but he has struggled in both of his two starts, lasting a total of seven innings. A 12-game winner in 2017, he was reached for five runs over three innings in his season debut versus Miami and was tagged for four runs and five hits over four innings at San Francisco on Saturday. Joey Votto is 9-for-26 with two homers and six RBIs against Nelson.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers RF Christian Yelich, who leads the majors with 27 homers, is riding a 16-game hitting streak.
2. Winker is 8-for-15 with two homers and seven RBIs over the past four games.
3. Brewers 3B Mike Moustakas sat out Wednesday after bruising his right hand in Tuesday's loss.