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Brewers searching for consistency without Sabathia on the mound

Aug 19, 2008 - 12:56 PM Houston (63-62) at Milwaukee (72-54) 8:05 p.m. EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers are nearly unbeatable with CC Sabathia on the mound. Without the reigning American League Cy Young award winner, the Brewers have struggled to find victories.

Milwaukee goes for its third win in four games when it continues a series against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Sabathia has been stellar since coming over from the Cleveland Indians on July 7, posting an 8-0 record in nine starts while logging five complete games, including Monday's 9-3 victory over the Astros in the series opener.

Since acquiring Sabathia, the Brewers are 8-1 in games started by the lefthander, but just 12-14 in the others.

Ben Sheets (11-6, 3.00 ERA), who started the All-Star game for the National League and will take the mound for the Brewers on Tuesday, has gone 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA since the trade.

Sheets allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings on Thursday, but suffered his third loss in four starts during Milwaukee's 3-2 setback to the San Diego Padres.

Brian Moehler (8-4, 3.97), who hasn't lost in seven starts since July 4, counters for the Astros. Moehler had won each of his previous three starts before surrendering four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings on Thursday. The 36-year-old righthander did not factor in the decision as the Astros claimed a 7-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.