Brewers at Diamondbacks
Second baseman Wilmer Flores is expected back in the lineup Thursday when the Arizona Diamondbacks begin a four-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Flores has been out since May 20 with a fractured right foot and will provide another boost to the Diamondbacks’ offense, which scored a total of 28 runs in its last two games.
Eduardo Escobar homered twice and drove in five runs in Wednesday’s 19-4 win over Texas as the Diamondbacks tied a franchise record for a nine-inning game with 21 hits and won for the sixth time in their last eight games. Kevin Cron, Jarrod Dyson and Carson Kelly also homered, but Dyson left the contest with a right hamstring cramp and is listed as day-to-day. Arizona is 9-6 in its last 15 home games versus Milwaukee, which took two of three against Atlanta after holding on for a 5-4 victory Wednesday. Manny Pina homered and drove in three runs while Christian Yelich extended his hitting streak to seven games with his 34th homer, which moved him into a tie with Cody Bellinger for the major league lead.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (7-2, 2.89 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (7-9, 3.93)
Davies turned in another strong outing last Saturday but received his third straight no-decision after allowing one unearned run on two hits over six innings against San Francisco. The 26-year-old has a 0.55 ERA with just one extra-base hit allowed over his last three starts covering 16 1/3 innings. Davies last faced Arizona in 2017 and owns a 2-1 record and 4.15 ERA in three career starts versus the Diamondbacks.
Kelly lost his third straight decision last Saturday, giving up four runs - one earned - with five strikeouts over five innings against St. Louis. The 30-year-old rookie has a 3.68 ERA in his last four starts across 22 innings. Kelly, who is making his first career appearance versus Milwaukee, owns a 3-3 record and 3.04 ERA in eight home starts compared to 4-6 with a 4.68 mark in 11 outings away from Chase Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. Milwaukee 2B Keston Hiura is 15-for-27 with three home runs and nine RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Escobar is hitting .338 with four home runs and 16 RBIs over his last 19 games.
3. Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced that LHP Gio Gonzalez (arm fatigue) will be activated from the injured list in time to start Saturday’s contest.