Brewers at Athletics
After enduring a week in which they lost five of six contests, the Oakland Athletics appear to be getting back on track. Oakland seeks its fourth consecutive victory on Wednesday as it hosts the Milwaukee Brewers for the middle contest of their three-game interleague series.
Each of the contests during the Athletics' three-game winning streak have been one-run decisions, including a 3-2 triumph in 10 innings on Tuesday in the series opener. Matt Olson completed his second straight two-hit performance with his 22nd homer of the season while Khris Davis also went deep for Oakland, which has a one-half game lead over Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot in the American League. Christian Yelich singled in the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to 17 games while Eric Thames belted a one-out solo homer in the ninth on Tuesday to end his 0-for-17 drought as the Brewers erased a pair of one-run deficits before dropping their second straight contest following a three-game winning streak. Orlando Arcia collected three of the seven hits recorded by Milwaukee, which trails St. Louis by 1 1/2 games for first place in the National League Central and is one out of the second wild-card spot.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jordan Lyles (5-7, 5.36 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (9-6, 4.05)
Lyles will be beginning his second tour of duty with Milwaukee after being acquired from Pittsburgh on Monday. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina, who went 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Brewers last year, last pitched on July 24 as he took the loss for the Pirates against St. Louis after surrendering eight runs - five earned - and seven hits (three homers) in 1 2/3 innings. Lyles has made two career starts versus Oakland, going 1-0 while giving up two runs in 13 2/3 frames.
Anderson had his four-start unbeaten streak halted by Texas on Thursday as he was reached for five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old Texan continued to maintain his control, however, as he did not issue a walk in the loss and has handed out only 11 free passes over 59 1/3 frames in his last 10 turns. Anderson has yielded 10 runs and 21 hits with 12 strikeouts and just one walk over 15 1/3 innings in three career starts against Milwaukee but has not recorded a decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis finished a triple shy of the cycle in the series opener and ended a 29-game home-run drought with his solo shot.
2. Milwaukee LHP Josh Hader has served up four home runs to left-handed hitters this season after surrendering a total of one over his first two major-league campaigns.
3. Oakland sent RHP Marco Estrada (back) to Single-A Stockton to continue his rehab assignment.