The Arizona Diamondbacks aim for a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park

Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers

Arizona heads into Wednesday’s action with a 47-40 overall record and just a single game back of San Francisco in the National League West standings.  The Diamondbacks have captured the first two games of this series, outscoring the Brewers by a 15-9 margin.  The club should also be proud that it handed Milwaukee its first back-to-back losses at home this season.  Since May 13, the team’s 32 wins is the second-most in the Majors behind Boston.  Arizona has a winning 24-21 mark on the road, but enters with a losing 12-13 record in day games.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter has a losing 4-5 record and 3.17 ERA in 17 outings (10 starts) this season and has dropped four consecutive decisions.  His 3.63 ERA in 10 starts is sixth-best among all rookie starters with a minimum of nine starts.  The rookie right-hander has posted a 1-3 mark and 3.96 ERA in nine road outings (six starts), allowing opponents to hit for a .257 average.  Collmenter has limited right-handed batters to a .176 average this season compared to a .263 mark when facing left-handed batters.

Milwaukee has dropped seven of eight games and has dropped to third place in the National League Central standings.  The Brewers still possess the NL’s best home record and 29-13.  “It’s been a battle,” said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.  “There’s a lot of guys that are frustrated.  There’s a lot of staff members that are frustrated with what’s going on.”  All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder has been a bright spot during the club’s recent struggles, being named NL Player of the Month for June, while driving in an NL-best 71st run last night.  He hopes to welcome back fellow All-Star Ryan Braun to the lineup this afternoon after missing three straight games with a strained calf.  Milwaukee is 22-16 when playing against a team with a winning record this year.

Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo is 9-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 18 starts this season.  The right-hander has tallied 11 quality starts this season and the team is 10-8 when he takes the mound.  Gallardo has posted a 6-1 mark and 3.47 ERA in nine home starts, allowing just three home runs in 57 innings.  In three career outings versus the Diamondbacks, he has produced a perfect 3-0 record and 1.06 ERA, issuing seven walks and registering 20 strikeouts in 17 frames.

Bettors will be interested in backing the Brewers due to their 9-2 record with Gallardo on the hill at home, while the Diamondbacks are 0-4 in Collmenter’s last four starts