Diamondbacks (49-44) @ Brewers (51-40) - Series Preview

The Brewers continue their ten-game homestand with a four-game set against the Diamondbacks. This will be the first series with the D-Backs in 2007 for the Brewers. The Crew was able to squeak out a series win over the Rockies after losing the first game of the series. The Cubs continued to stay hot as they swept the Astros as Wrigley this past weekend.

Ben Sheets has been placed on the DL because of a sprained middle finger on his right hand. Also, Chris Spurling has been placed on the bereavement list due to a family emergency. To replace those two pitchers, the Brewers called up lefty Manny Parra and righty Grant Balfour from Triple A Nashville. Yovanni Gallardo will replace Sheets in the rotation for now.

Pitching match ups:

Monday - 7:05 PM CDT:

RHP Micah Owings (5-4, 4.84) vs. RHP Dave Bush (7-7, 4.86)

Owings is coming off back to back sub par starts. In his two starts in the month of July, Owings is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA. Owings is in first year in the bigs after being drafted in the third round by the D-Backs two years ago out of Tulane. He has never faced the Brewers in his career. Lefties are hitting .306 against Owings with eight homers this season.

Last time out for Bush, he had a very nice start against the Nationals. Bush pitched seven innings and gave up just one run which was a homer to Ronnie Belliard. The righty has really turned his season around in the last month and a half or so. Bush's ERA has dropped from 6.13 to 4.86 since May 25th. In his career against the D-Backs, Bush is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two starts. Chad Tracy is 2-7 with three RBI against Bush in his career.

Tuesday - 7:05 PM CDT:

RHP Yusmeiro Petit (1-1, 3.12) vs. RHP Claudio Vargas (6-2, 4.52)

Petit is filling for the injured Randy Johnson. He will making his fourth start of the season for the D-Backs. In his last two starts, Petit is 1-0 with 3.48 ERA. Last year, Petit made his big league debut with the Marlins and appeared in 19 games, mostly out of the pen. Petit pitched one scoreless inning in relief against the Brewers during last season. Geoff Jenkins is only current Brewer to have faced Petit in his career and is 0-1 with a strikeout.

Vargas will be facing his former team for the first time this season. In his last start, Vargas lost for the first time since May 26th. Vargas gave up five runs in six innings of work against the Pirates on the fourth of July. So, Vargas will be pitching on almost two weeks rest when he takes the mound Tuesday. The Brewers are 12-3 in games that Vargas starts. Even though his ERA is higher at home, Vargas has yet to lose at Miller Park as he is 4-0 at home. In his career against the D-Backs, Vargas is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four appearances, three of which were starts. Tracy is 4-8 against Vargas in his career.

Wednesday - 7:05 PM CDT:

LHP Doug Davis (6-10, 4.19) vs. LHP Chris Capuano (5-6, 5.16)

Davis will be facing the Brewers for the first time since being traded from the Crew in the off season. The southpaw logged 37 wins for the Brewers in just over three years. He was durable for the Brewers pitching over 200 innings in three straight seasons from 2004-06. In his last start this season, Davis beat the Padres by throwing six innings and giving up two runs. Walks have continued to plague Davis this year. Davis walked 102 batters last year with the Brewers. This year, Davis has 62 walks in 111 2/3 innings of work. The Brewers will have to be patient in their approach against Davis. Tony Graffanino is 8-14 with four doubles, two homers and five RBI against Davis in his career.

Capuano's struggles continued in his last start which was against the Rockies Friday. He started strong with two scoreless innings. Capuano ran into trouble in the 3rd inning and could not make it out of the fourth. His line ended up as follows: three innings, five runs, six hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Capuano has not been very sharp since returning from a groin injury. He is 0-1 with a 10.03 ERA in three starts since coming off the DL. Capuano's walk rate is a concern due to the fact he has almost walked as many batters as he did all of last year. In his career against the D-Backs, Capuano is 1-2 with 4.09 ERA in four starts. Capuano was drafted by the Diamondbacks and spent his rookie season with Arizona. Conor Jackson is 2-9 against Capuano in his career but both hits were homers.

Thursday - 1:05 PM CDT:

RHP Livan Hernandez (5-5, 4.61) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-1, 2.83)

Hernandez won his last start which was against the Padres. The righty threw six innings and gave up four runs to pick up his fifth win of the season. Hernandez's opponent batting average in 2007 is .297 compared to .277 for his career. In his career against the Brewers, Hernandez is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 starts. Johnny Estrada is 9-22 with three doubles and four RBI against Hernandez in his career.

Gallardo fills in for the injured Sheets who left his last start after three and a third innings with a sprained middle finger on his right hand. This will be Gallardo's fourth start in the bigs. He had been pitching out of the bullpen since Capuano came off the DL. Gallardo will be facing the D-Backs for the first time in his career.