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White Sox-Brewers Preview

Jun 12, 2009 - 1:52 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (27-33) at Milwaukee (33-26), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers are still in first place, but they are searching for answers. To find them this weekend, they will have to do it against a very unfamiliar opponent.

The Brewers try to avoid a season-worst fifth straight loss Friday night when they start a three-game home set against the Chicago White Sox, whom they haven't faced in eight seasons.

Milwaukee (33-27) has lost four in a row to see its advantage in the NL Central cut to one-half game over St. Louis. The Brewers fell 5-4 to Colorado on Thursday to complete a dismal series in which they batted .214 with 29 strikeouts in three games.

Manager Ken Macha did not start slumping hitters J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, Mike Cameron and Bill Hall. Hardy is hitless in his last 17 at-bats, Hart is 4 for 28 in his last eight games, Cameron is in a 2-for-22 slump and Hall is 5 for 63 since May 12.

All four right-handed hitters are expected to be back in the lineup Friday since Chicago (28-33) will start left-hander Clayton Richard (2-1, 4.14 ERA).

"Sometimes when clubs aren't hitting, you get a little quietness on the bench," Macha told the Brewers' official Web site. "We still have over 100 games left and you have to keep the faith, stay positive about what you are doing."

Milwaukee and Chicago met for four straight years in interleague play after the Brewers moved to the NL in 1998, but they haven't played since 2001. The White Sox have won the last six meetings.

Chicago is starting a nine-game interleague road trip after a 4-8 homestand. Scott Podsednik's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gave the White Sox a 4-3 win over Detroit on Thursday.

Without the ability to use a designated hitter on this trip, it is unclear whether Paul Konerko will be in the White Sox lineup. He has a loose ligament in his right thumb and sat out Thursday.

Konerko said he wouldn't rule out playing Friday.

"It's no different than anything I had last year or in the past," he said. "I'm just trying to manage it to keep the pain down and sometimes it gets to where you can't do what you want to do out there. That's kind of where it's been the last couple days. But all in all, it's been pretty good this year."

Milwaukee starter Jeff Suppan (4-4, 4.66) is searching for his first win at home. Suppan is 0-3 with a 6.41 ERA in four outings at Miller Park this year.

The veteran right-hander won his last start Saturday at Atlanta by yielding six hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 3-0 victory.

Suppan hasn't faced the White Sox since 2003. He is 6-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 20 appearances against them, including 18 starts.

Richard will pitch on three days' rest between starts for the first time in his career. He gave up three runs over 4 2-3 innings and threw 100 pitches Monday, not getting a decision in a 5-4 loss to Detroit.

The left-hander has struggled with his control in his last two outings, walking nine over 10 innings.

This is Richard's seventh start of the year and second ever in interleague play. He allowed four hits over six innings May 23 to beat Pittsburgh in a 4-0 win.