Through the first half of the season the Milwaukee Brewers are looking like a potential powerhouse in the National League with their upgraded rotation, bolstered bullpen, and powerful offense. And for all of their success at Miller Park the Brew Crew has seriously struggled on the road, and now must visit the defending champion San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Milwaukee is second in the NL in home wins so far with 33, but sports an abismal 20-33 record on the road, a record that has kept them in a virtual tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central instead of running away with it. In their previous meeting earlier this year up in Milwaukee the Brewers took two of three from the Giants, hopefully the G-Men can return the favor and then some this weekend.
The Giants are amidst a flurry of trade rumors as the deadline approaches, already pulling the trigger on former Astros infielder Jeff Keppinger. But skipper Bruce Bochy knows that the players he has now have been winning, and have played well enough to keep doing so:
"Right now these are my guys," Bochy said. "They're doing quite well, and if this is the last move, then we'll go to battle with these guys. I think they've done a nice job."
The Giants will send out Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Madison Bumgarner out to the mound this weekend to face Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf and Yovani Gallardo; meaning there may be three straight pitchers duels by McCovey Cove in this series of first place teams.