Brewers at Nationals
The Milwaukee Brewers look to grab a huge series victory after surviving a marathon 14-inning affair when they visit the Washington Nationals for the rubber match of a three-game set on Sunday afternoon. The Brewers belted a franchise record-tying seven homers, including Eric Thames’ two-run blast in the 14th frame, earning a 15-14 victory to even the series and remain one game out in the race for the second National League wild card spot.
Christian Yelich launched two homers to become the seventh Milwaukee slugger to hit 40 long balls in a single season and is tied for sixth in franchise history with 41 while Ryan Braun also went deep twice to extend his streak to 13 starts with at least one hit. The Brewers could use some length from Chase Anderson when he takes the mound Sunday after 10 pitchers stepped on the mound for the club Saturday and the Nationals counter with fellow right-hander Erick Fedde, who hopes to match the performance from his last two outings. Washington, which owns the top wild card spot in the NL, saw its five-game winning streak end after coughing up a three-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday to fall 5 1/2 games back in the NL East. Trea Turner had one of the Nationals’ four homers Saturday and extended his on-base streak to a career high-tying 24 games while Juan Soto belted his 26th homer - five in his last eight contests - to go along with 10 RBIs.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (5-2, 3.78 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (3-2, 4.09)
Anderson is unbeaten in his last 10 outings while allowing more than two runs just once in that stretch, but winning only two of those games. The 31-year-old Texan completed six innings just twice this season, but one of those was Aug. 1 when he limited Oakland to one run on two hits over six frames in a no-decision. Brian Dozier is 3-for-8 with a double and a homer versus Anderson, who is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two career games against Washington.
Fedde has been outstanding while winning his last two starts, blanking San Francisco over six innings on Aug. 5 before limiting Cincinnati to two runs across six frames last Monday. The 26-year-old UNLV product, who pitched a scoreless inning versus Milwaukee on May 8, has had some trouble with control - walking 27 batters across 66 innings overall. Mike Moustakas doubled in his lone at-bat against Fedde, who is 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon boasts 34 RBIs over his last 35 games, batting .348 during that stretch.
2. Milwaukee 2B Keston Hiura is 7-for-19 with four runs over his last four games to raise his batting average to .305.
3. Nationals OF Adam Eaton is 14-for-33 over his last eight games after recording four hits on Saturday.