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Giants-Brewers Preview

Jun 27, 2009 - 6:08 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

San Francisco (39-33) at Milwaukee (39-34), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers appear to be in good shape at the very top of their rotation, but the rest of their starting staff has done little to inspire similar confidence.

A night after another winning performance from their ace, the Brewers will give Seth McClung his first shot in the rotation this season as they continue a three-game set Saturday afternoon with the visiting San Francisco Giants.

With CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets gone via free agency, Milwaukee (39-34) was counting on Yovani Gallardo to come up big at the front of the rotation if it was to compete in the NL Central.

Gallardo has done his part, allowing three runs or fewer in 13 of his 15 starts, including limiting the Giants (39-33) to four hits over 7 2-3 innings Friday in a 5-1 victory, his eighth.

The win tied the Brewers with St. Louis atop the division standings.

"Based on the circumstances that we're in right now with starting pitching, it's that much more important for us to win every time he does start," left fielder Ryan Braun said. "He's been great for us all year. He's been our guy."

It's been especially important to win when Gallardo is pitching considering the struggles behind him in the rotation. The Brewers' other starters have a combined 5.63 ERA and haven't recorded a win since June 12.

McClung (3-1, 3.24 ERA) will try to snap that skid as he makes his first start of 2009. With Dave Bush going on the disabled list earlier this week and the struggling Manny Parra demoted to Triple-A Nashville, that left McClung, who started 12 games last season, as the obvious choice.

"I was told in spring training that I was the 'sixth starter,' but they need to do what they think is right, obviously," McClung told the Brewers' official Web site. "... I'm just going to be ready when they tell me to pitch."

McClung, who was 4-4 with a 4.24 ERA as a starter in 2008, has given up two runs in four career innings of relief against the Giants. Bengie Molina (2 for 6) is the only batter with a hit against McClung.

San Francisco, meanwhile, is currently leading the wild-card race thanks to its outstanding starting pitching. The Giants' 3.80 ERA is the fourth-best of any starting staff in the majors.

Barry Zito (4-7, 4.54) has won three of his last four outings, and his latest was among his best in recent memory. One start after allowing a season-high seven runs in 3 1-3 innings, Zito bounced back Sunday against Texas.

The former AL Cy Young Award winner had his no-hitter broken up in the seventh inning, but limited the Rangers to two runs and two hits in a 3-2 victory.

"It wasn't a very auspicious start for him," manager Bruce Bochy told the Giants' official Web site. "I thought he started getting the ball down better as he went. He was locked in."

Zito's history at Miller Park, though, doesn't bode well for San Francisco. The left-hander has made three starts in Milwaukee since 2007, going 0-3 with a 10.05 ERA.

He's allowed five homers in 14 1-3 innings, including a pair to Braun, who has also tripled against Zito. Right fielder Corey Hart, meanwhile, is 4 for 8 with a homer versus Zito.

Braun is hitting .415 (22 for 53) with four homers and 13 RBIs against left-handers.