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Gallardo makes return as Brewers seek wild card lead

Sep 25, 2008 - 10:06 AM Pittsburgh (65-93) at Milwaukee (87-71) 8:05 pm. EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Yovani Gallardo has little room for error in his first start in nearly five months.

The righthander returns to the mound on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, looking to help the Milwaukee Brewers move closer to their first postseason berth in 26 years.

Milwaukee, which has not reached the playoffs since 1982, is tied with New York (87-71) for the lead in the wild-card race. CC Sabathia threw seven outstanding innings on three days' rest leading the Brewers to a 4-2 victory on Wednesday.

Sabathia has pitched on three days' rest in each of his last two starts to compensate for the loss of Ben Sheets (elbow). Sheets' injury is part of the reason Gallardo (0-0, 1.80 ERA) is being rushed back into the rotation following surgery to repair a torn ACL.

The 22-year-old made three starts before suffering the injury on May 1. Interim manager Dale Sveum said Gallardo, who was expected to work his way back in bullpen, will be restricted to around 70 pitches.

Gallardo will try and help the Brewers to their 12th straight win over the hapless Pirates. He is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two career starts vs. Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, who have lost 13 of the 14 meetings with the Brewers this season, hand the ball to Zach Duke (5-14, 4.96). Duke has one win in his last 17 starts, and is looking to avoid matching a career-high in losses.