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Struggling Brewers search for a win vs. Nationals

May 24, 2008 - 1:38 PM Milwaukee (22-26) at Washington (21-28) 7:10 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - The struggling Milwaukee Brewers will give a converted reliever a chance Saturday when they visit the Washington Nationals.

With a struggling pitching staff and a 7-14 record this month, the Brewers are searching for ways to get better production out of their team.

Their latest gamble involves switching Seth McClung and Carlos Villanueva on the pitching hierarchy, with McClung moving into the rotation.

McClung (1-1, 3.54 ERA) has not made a start in the majors since June 18, 2006, when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. The righthander is 12-20 with a 6.17 ERA in 37 career starts - all with the Rays.

McClung has pitched more than one inning in each of his 11 appearances out of the bullpen this season and has struck out 20 batters in 20 1/3 frames.

While McClung has the potential to improve a staff that ranks 15th in the National League with a 4.58 ERA, he likely will be of little help to a stagnant offense that sits 25th in the majors with a .248 team batting average.

Thought to have one of the more potent offenses in the NL prior to the season, no regular on the club is hitting over .300 and the four starting infielders have combined for 136 strikeouts.

Washington lefthander John Lannan (4-4, 3.40) will attempt to hand Milwaukee a third straight loss on Saturday.

Lannan allowed just one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings, walking one while striking out five, to earn a win during Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.