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Brewers hope trio can turn things around vs. Cardinals

Apr 15, 2008 - 3:47 PM Milwaukee (8-4) at St. Louis (9-4) 8:15 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - After a rocky 2007, not much was expected from Dave Bush. But despite the team's strong start, the Milwaukee Brewers have to be disappointed with the way Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun have opened the season.

Despite the struggles from two of their key hitters, the Brewers hope to send an early message to their National League Central Division rival St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

Fielder, who hit 50 home runs in 2007, is homerless while Braun, who hit .324 in his NL Rookie of the Year campaign last season, is batting just .226 so far. The duo combined to hit .303 with 84 homers and 216 RBI a season ago.

In 31 starts last season, Bush (0-2, 8.44 ERA) allowed opponents to bat .291 against him - a far cry from the .268 average he has permitted over his career. So far in 2008, opposing hitters have batted .300 against him.

Bush suffered his second straight losing decision in Wednesday's 12-4 home setback against Cincinnati in which he surrendered five runs - four earned - and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. Therefore, the righthander may be the starter to lose his place in the rotation when Yovani Gallardo returns from the disabled list in the coming days.

Opposing Bush will be Braden Looper (2-0, 3.09 ERA), who has won both of his starts this season. The righthander went 5 2/3 innings in a 6-4 win against Houston, allowing three runs and five hits.