Right-hander Dave Bush, who has a 2.57 ERA over his last five starts, will take the mound for Milwaukee against Arizona right-hander Claudio Vargas. Bush has been a different pitcher on the road this season (1-4, 5.80 ERA, .302 opponents' batting average) than at home (4-3, 3.21 ERA, .208 average against).
But pitching is not the only concern for Brewers manager Ned Yost, whose club has lost five in a row and is 15-28 away from Miller Park. The club's offense has scored 13 runs in its last six games.
Tops on the list of slumping sluggers is first baseman Prince Fielder, who has hit safely in each of the two games since the All-Star break but has just seven hits in his last 56 at-bats (.125). He has 14 strikeouts in 43 at-bats this month.
"I think when you start to press a little bit, a real result of that is your plate discipline," Yost said. "You get anxious to get hits, and you start straying from your approach. They want the struggles to end, and they want it to end now. You start swinging at pitches you don't normally swing at."
Despite the slump, Fielder has 16 home runs this season and is one shy of tying the franchise's rookie record.
Pitching matchup
MIL: RHP Dave Bush (5-7, 4.34 ERA)
Bush beat the Diamondbacks on April 7 at Miller Park in his Brewers debut.
ARI: RHP Claudio Vargas (7-5, 4.91 ERA)
Opponents are hitting .202 against Vargas in the first inning.
Player to watch
Center fielder Brady Clark, who is 3-for-6 against Vargas with a home run, will likely return to the lineup on Sunday after sitting Saturday out. Clark altered his batting stance over the All-Star break, hoping to drive the baseball with more authority.