Phillies-Brewers Preview (7/7-7/10)

Brewers previews to get you ready for the series where we have five things to watch, pitching matchups and prediction. We add a YouTube video in the mix, it could be really anything.  

Pitching Matchups & TV Times
Monday: Cole Hamels (2-5 2.98) vs. Marco Estrada (7-5 4.94)            7:10 pm FSNWI
Tuesday: Kyle Kendrick (3-8 4.12) vs. Wily Peralta (9-5 3.35)             7:10 pm FSNWI
Wednesday: Roberto Hernandez (3-8 4.48) vs. Kyle Lohse (9-3 3.18)  7:10 pm FSNWI
Thursday: David Buchanan (4-5 4.82) vs. Matt Garza (6-5 3.78)            1:10 pm 620 WTMJ

Five Things to Watch 
1.) Brewers hit the skids a bit - They are back in Milwaukee after a horrendous road trip where they went 1-5. Granted, these were against two of the better teams in baseball, but some people are getting a little nervous the bottom is ready to fall out with this team. I don't think it is time to push the panic button, but right now, I have my hands in my pockets, whistling near the button.

2.) Philadelphia isn't playing good baseball - While Milwaukee might be through their worst stretch of the season thus far, it isn't going much better in the City of Brotherly Love. They were swept this weekend at Pittsburgh, and Philly also has lost 12 of their last 15 games. Phillies were only five games under .500 three Saturdays ago, and now, the whole thing blew up on them again.

3.) Phillies offensive offense - This isn't the power-hitting, scary Phillies of team of yore. Their offense is completely anemic. The team has only scored more than three runs four times in the last 15 games, three of them were wins for Philadelphia. Ryan Howard completely fell off a cliff after a hot June. He is two for his last 19 at-bats, and the last time he hit a home run was June 19th.  

4.) Carlos Gomez heat up? - This hasn't been a great start to the month of July for Gomez. He did not have a good road trip and suffering his first slump of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if we see more bunts from Gomez as he attempts to get himself going more in different ways.

5.) Dealing with Cole Hamels - Even though Philadelphia isn't a good team, Cole Hamels is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. Milwaukee is currently struggling meaning Hamels could be an issue for this team tonight. But if you want some optimism, Jonathan Lucroy has great numbers against him in a small sample size, same for Mark Reynolds and if he plays tonight, Ryan Braun hits .321 with three home runs off Hamels. Milwaukee has found a way to handle lefties pretty well this season.

Apporirate YouTube Video 


It is obvious Panic Switch by Sliversun Pickups. Don't push it yet Brewers fans. If they lose three of four against Philadelphia, we can all collectively freak out.

Prediction 
A split would be fine with me, but I think they end up getting three of four including beating Hamels tonight. They will lose one dumb game somewhere.