Brewers next up for Astros

The streaking Astros welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to Minute Maid Park for a three game set that starts Friday at 7:05 CDT. Houston has won four straight including the finale in San Francisco and a sweep of the Pirates. Those two clubs have been offensively challenged in recent weeks to say the least. The first place Brewers are another story.

Milwaukee, led by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, has the second best OPS (.743) in the National League. But the Brew Crew has struggled recently. St. Louis completed a three game sweep of the Brewers earlier today at Miller Park. Prior to that series Milwaukee had a gaudy 50-16 record at home.

Astros starting pitchers have posted seven straight quality starts. Really? Yes, it’s true. Oh yea, they were against the Giants and Pirates after all. But they still count, right? Rookie Lucas Harrell will be called upon to try and extend the streak. The right-hander has gone 5-2 with an impressive 1.72 ERA at Oklahoma City since being claimed off waivers from the White Sox. Zack Greinke (13-5, 4.05) gets the start for the Brewers. Greinke is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two career starts against the Astros.