First pitch is 1:10 PM CT at Daikin Park, and the Brewers (34-21) send Jacob Misiorowski to the mound to try to close out the series win over a Houston club (27-33) that just spent Friday reminding everyone they can still score in bunches when the rotation cooperates.
Miz has been the best story in the National League. He's 5-2 with a 1.83 ERA, was the first pitcher in MLB to 100 strikeouts, and just spun 7 innings of 1-run, 12-K ball against the Cardinals on May 25. Houston, meanwhile, runs Tatsuya Imai out there — the $54M NPB import who has a 6.17 ERA but somehow tossed 6 no-hit innings against the Rangers his last time out despite walking 4. Imai is either the guy with the 6-plus ERA or the guy who didn't allow a hit. Houston needs the second one.
The Brewers had ripped off four straight before Friday's nightcap, where Christian Walker's 3-run shot and a Jeremy Peña homer ended the streak in a 9-2 thumping. That kind of game is the lone risk with this Milwaukee group right now — when the offense gets quiet, they don't have the depth to slug back. Behind Miz they almost never need to.
Houston's bigger problem is the infirmary. Carlos Correa is post-surgery on his ankle, Jose Altuve is still working back from the oblique, Yainer Diaz isn't due to start a rehab until next week, and the rotation is missing Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., and Ronel Blanco. Josh Hader is finally close to a return from the bullpen — but "close" doesn't help today.
- Day-To-DayGerson Garabito RP — Garabito will be out for four months after undergoing surgery to address a broken bone in his foot, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrandon Lockridge LF — Lockridge is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late June after an MRI on his right knee showed a bone bruise, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
- 15-Day-ILQuinn Priester SP — Priester (shoulder) recorded two outs and was charged with three earned runs on two hits and three walks Wednesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Nashville. He struck out one batter.
- 15-Day-ILJared Koenig RP — Koenig (elbow) said his live bullpen session went well Tuesday and he expects to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrandon Woodruff SP — The Brewers announced Tuesday that Woodruff (shoulder) is scheduled for a 60-pitch live batting practice session next week, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLogan Henderson SP — Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that Henderson might not make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Cardinals due to back tightness, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILAngel Zerpa RP — Zerpa will undergo UCL reconstruction on his left elbow next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
- 60-Day-ILRob Zastryzny RP — Zastryzny (shoulder/ribs) will resume a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayBraden Shewmake SS — Shewmake was removed from Saturday's game against the Brewers with right groin soreness.
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek C — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.
- 10-Day-ILJose Altuve 2B — Altuve (oblique) took BP, ran the bases and fielded grounders Saturday, and he's slated to face live pitching in the coming days, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILJoey Loperfido LF — Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Monday that Loperfido (quadriceps) will pause his rehab assignment until Wednesday after fouling a ball off his foot during Sunday's game with Double-A Corpus Christie, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILYainer Diaz C — Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Diaz (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment during the first week of June, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCarlos Correa SS — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. SP — McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start against the Twins on Tuesday due to shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa RP — The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
The market reflects all of it: Milwaukee is a -185 favorite on Pinnacle, laying -1.5 at a near pick'em price. The total sits at 7.5 with the over juiced. If Miz does Miz things, the under is in play before anyone finishes their first beer. If Imai pitches like he did against Texas, this becomes a bullpen game neither side particularly wants. The Brewers are the right side until proven otherwise.