The Brewers are suffering through a short losing streak, and it won't get any easier for them today as they send Jeff Suppan against Cole Hamels. A win by the Phillies brings them back to .500. They've been getting good production Greg Dobbs as he fills in for Ryan Howard. Philadelphia will put at least four lefties in the lineup against Suppan this evening, and he's allowed a .322 batting average to left-handed hitters this season. Hamels collected more strikeouts than hits so far this season, but his hits allowed seem high for that few balls in play. Opposition batting are hitting .376 when they make contact with Hamels, including seven home runs. Maybe the Phillies defense isn't playing well behind Cole.

The Cubs and Mets continue their series at Shea with Rich Hill facing Jorge Sosa. Both are off to excellent starts. The Mets and Cubs rank first and third respectively in starter's ERA in the NL, and these two pitchers contributed to those rankings. In two starts, Sosa is holding opponents to a .255 OBA, mostly by keeping his hits allowed low. Hill brought his home runs allowed under control this year, lowering his ERA with it.

Out on the west coast, Jake Peavy goes for his fifth straight ten-strikeout game as he faces the Reds and Bronson Arroyo. Over the stretch of four games, Jake's allowed just three earned runs in twenty eight innings. Arroyo is doing a great job of limiting the opposition's power. He ranks sixth in the NL in slugging percentage allowed at .285. Peavy is first at .220. Given PETCO Park's damping effect on offense, expect a close, low scoring game tonight.

Enjoy!