The Milwaukee Brewers sit 2 ½ games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the last Wild Card spot in the NL so losing to the lowly Cincinnati Reds is not an option. The Brewers took Game 1 of their 4-game set with the Reds yesterday, with a 5-1 win at Great American Ball Park. Tonight Milwaukee is expected to send lefty Eric Lauer to the hill. He is 10-7 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. The Reds are expected to counter with the veteran southpaw Mike Minor. Minor has not pitched well. He is 4-12 with an elevated ERA of 6.06 and 1.63 WHIP. Milwaukee is 16-6 in the last 22 meetings overall and 4-0 in their last 4 in Cincinnati. The Brew Crew are 9-4 in their last 13 road games against a left-handed starter and should be able to get to Minor.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS