After a deflating loss to the Astros in the opener of a four-game series, the Brewers will send right-hander Tomo Ohka to the mound on Friday night to get the team back on track. Despite their inability since the All-Star break to get on a roll, the Brewers remain within shouting distance of the National League Wild Card leaders.
"You can't think about the Wild Card if you don't win," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "You have to win ballgames, and you have to put a bunch of wins together. That's our focus right now."
The same can be said for Ohka. In his last outing, Ohka surrendered three runs in five innings at Atlanta on Sunday and took a no-decision.
Someone will have to jump-start the offense. The Brewers were limited to five hits on Thursday and are averaging 3.8 runs per game this month. They scored 4.6 runs per game in the four months before August.
"The potential is definitely here," said third baseman David Bell, one of the few Brewers on a bit of a hot streak. "It doesn't do us much good to talk about it, but the potential is definitely here, and that's the first step."
Pitching matchup
MIL: RHP Tomo Ohka (3-3, 4.30 ERA)
After going 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in his first three starts off the disabled list, Ohka is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.
HOU: RHP Brandon Backe (3-2, 3.93 ERA)
Backe has surrendered 31 hits over his last four starts but has won three of his last four decisions.
Player to watch
After a slow start since a move to the starting lineup, Corey Hart has begun to get hot. The outfielder has hit safely and scored a run in each of the last four games and has homered in two out of the last three. He made his first career start as the leadoff hitter on Thursday and hit Astros right-hander Jason Hirsh's second pitch for a home run.