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Brewers, Marlins set to match young starters

Apr 25, 2008 - 2:39 PM Florida (13-9) at Milwaukee (13-9) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - The Florida Marlins have been surprisingly successful this season. They will look to continue that success when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

The Marlins are led by a potent offense that ranks second in the majors with 33 homers this season. Hanley Ramirez and Mike Jacobs lead the team with seven blasts and Josh Willingham has six.

The homers have helped offset a pitching staff that has yielded 111 runs thus far.

One of the few bright spots on the staff has been lefthander Scott Olsen (3-0, 2.60 ERA). The 24-year-old went 10-15 last season and posted a 5.81 ERA - the highest mark of any National League pitcher with more than 150 innings.

But he has been sharp so far this season, allowing opponents to hit just .192 while yielding eight earned runs in 27 2/3 innings. He has been especially good lately, allowing just one run and eight hits combined in last two starts - both victories.

The Brewers will counter with their own promising youngster, Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 1.29).

The 22-year-old righthander made his season debut Sunday at Cincinnati, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings after sitting out the first three weeks following knee surgery.

Milwaukee will be trying to rebound from a 3-1 loss to the Phillies on Thursday. Righthander David Riske surrendered a two-run double in the eighth to suffer the loss.