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Braves-Brewers Preview

Jul 26, 2009 - 4:07 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Atlanta (50-47) at Milwaukee (48-48), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers appear to have a star-in-waiting leading their pitching staff, but they've been waiting for someone to step up and join him atop their generally unimpressive rotation.

Braden Looper's last month seems to suggest he's the one for the job.

Looper will look for his fifth consecutive victory Sunday afternoon when the Brewers try to win the decisive finale of their three-game series with the visiting Atlanta Braves.

Milwaukee (49-48) doesn't have the 1-2 punch of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets leading its rotation as it did for the latter half of last season, but Yovani Gallardo has started to fulfill his potential as staff ace after missing most of 2008 due to injury.

While Gallardo has given the Brewers a solid No. 1, they've struggled finding a consistent pitcher to follow him. They're hoping Looper (9-4, 4.64 ERA) can do just that, and lately it's looked like he will.

The journeyman right-hander has certainly been given some help, averaging 9.5 runs of support in going 3-0 with a 4.18 ERA from June 29-July 16. Milwaukee only gave him two runs Tuesday at Pittsburgh, but Looper allowed just four hits over seven innings in a 2-0 victory.

"I'm sure the guys were trying to score eight or 10," Looper said. "That's just the way baseball is. You've got to take the runs when you can get them and just go out there and try to put zeros on the board."

Looper's two starts against the Braves (50-48) last season went especially well. He won both while posting a 3.21 ERA and lasting seven innings in each outing.

He'll have a chance to pitch the Brewers to what would be their fifth consecutive series victory against Atlanta thanks to Gallardo. The 23-year-old won for the first time since late June on Saturday, scattering four hits over 7 1-3 innings in a 4-0 victory.

The win was Gallardo's ninth, tying him with Looper for the staff lead.

"Gallardo was outstanding. The guy pitched a great game. We had a couple of chances and that's all we got," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Gallardo finally found a way to shut down Chipper Jones, who had been 7 for 8 with three homers and six RBIs in the Braves' previous two wins over Milwaukee. Jones is a .308 (8 for 26) career hitter with a homer and seven RBIs against Looper.

Derek Lowe (9-7, 4.26) will get the ball for Atlanta for a lengthier outing than he's had recently. Lowe made it through at least seven innings in seven of his first 13 outings - going 7-3 with a 3.44 ERA - but he hasn't made it more than 6 1-3 while posting a 5.93 ERA in his past eight appearances.

He's won two of his past three starts, however, finishing exactly six innings in each. He gave up a run and seven hits Tuesday against San Francisco in an 8-1 victory.

Lowe is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA in eight games - six starts - against Milwaukee. He last faced the Brewers on Aug. 16, allowing one run over seven innings but not factoring in the decision in a 4-3, 10-inning loss.

Milwaukee is hitting just .219 in day games, with J.J. Hardy (.114) struggling the most.