Mets (59-46) @ Brewers (57-49) - Series Preview

The Brewers return home to start a six-game homestand. The Crew will take on the Mets in three-game set at Miller Park. The Brewers lost two of three when they played the Mets at Shea Stadium back in May. This will be the last time the Brewers play the Mets this season.

The Crew will be without Scott Linebrink for the first two games of the series because Linebrink will be with his wife for a couple days. Linebrink's wife gave birth on Monday.

The Mets traded for second baseman Luis Castillo from the Twins Monday. Ruben Gotay had been filling in for the injured Jose Valentin at second base for the Mets. Look for Castillo to step right into the two-hole in the starting lineup for the Mets. Also, the Mets will be without Carlos Beltran for the series as he is out with a strained oblique muscle. Look for Lastings Milledge to be in center field for much of the series against the Crew according to the New York Daily News.

Pitching match ups:

Tuesday - 7:05 PM CDT:

LHP Tom Glavine (9-6, 4.51) vs. RHP Jeff Suppan (8-9, 5.08)

Glavine will be looking to make history Tuesday at Miller Park. The veteran southpaw stands at 299 wins for his career. Glavine would be the 23rd pitcher in baseball history with 300 wins. There is a lot of talk that Glavine could be the last pitcher to reach the milestone. In his career against the Brewers, Glavine is 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts. Johnny Estrada is 6-17 with one double and two RBI against Glavine in his career. Glavine picked up win number 299 in his last start which was against the Pirates. He threw six innings and gave up eight hits and three runs. In the month of July, Glavine is 2-1 with a 5.90 ERA in five starts.

Suppan's struggles continued in his last start against the Reds. He gave up five runs and ten hits in five innings of work in that outing. The last time Suppan pitched more then six innings was June 12th against the Tigers when he pitched six and a third innings. When he faced the Mets earlier this year, Suppan threw six innings and gave up four runs in a loss. Suppan was the NLCS MVP last year against the Mets. In his career against the Mets not including the postseason, Suppan is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in seven starts. Paul Lo Duca is 7-19 with with two doubles and four RBI against Suppan in his career.

Wednesday - 7:05 PM CDT:

LHP Oliver Perez (9-7, 2.84) vs. RHP Dave Bush (8-8, 4.91)

Perez faced his former team, the Pirates, in his last start and gave up five runs in six innings. He was charged with his seventh loss of the year. Even with that outing, Perez had a solid month of July with a record of 2-1 and a 1.40 ERA in three starts. Perez beat the Brewers back in May by throwing eight and a third solid innings in which he gave up just one run and two hits. In his career against the Brewers, Perez is 2-1 with a 4.04 ERA in six starts. Craig Counsell is the only Brewer with more than two hits against Perez. He is 3-12 against Perez in his career.

Bush gave up four runs in five and a third innings in his last outing which was against the Reds. He ended up with a no-decision and the Brewers lost in extra innings. In the month of July, Bush was 2-2 with a 4.45 ERA in five starts. The righty is 5-5 with a 4.30 ERA in starts at home this year. Bush will be facing the Mets for the second time in his career. He beat the Mets last season by throwing six innings and giving up three earned runs. Carlos Delgado is 2-3 with a homer in his career against Bush.

Thursday - 1:05 PM CDT:

RHP Jorge Sosa (7-6, 4.59) vs. RHP Claudio Vargas (9-2, 4.30)

Sosa beat Suppan and the Brewers earlier this year at Shea Stadium. He pitched six and two thirds innings and gave up two runs. In his career against the Brewers, Sosa is 1-1 with a 1.40 ERA in seven appearances, three of which were starts. Geoff Jenkins is 5-10 with a homer and a double against Sosa in his career. Sosa lost to the Nationals in his last start. He gave up five runs in six innings of work. Sosa had a tough month of July with a record of 0-3 and an ERA of 7.31 in three starts.

Vargas had his best outing of the year last time out. He pitched eight solid innings and gave up two runs against the Cardinals. It was the first time that Vargas pitched more than six innings in any start this year. The Brewers are now 15-3 in games that Vargas starts. Vargas has not had much luck against the Mets in his career. He is 0-2 with a 9.13 ERA in three starts against the Mets. Moises Alou is 7-18 with a double, a homer and four RBI in his career against Vargas.