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MILWAUKEE BREWERS (Action) - I like the way the Brewers are playing right now, and think is the perfect spot for them to keep this run alive. The surging Brewers come in after posting a three-game road sweep in Cleveland, where they tallied 30 runs and appear to be ready to maintain their lead in the NL Central while pulling even at .500 in Interleague play this season.

Milwaukee, which has won four of nine Interleague games, come in on winning streaks of 5-1 with a suitcase in hand, 14-3 in series openers and 20-6 against winning teams.

On the flipside, we’re siding against a Tigers team that clawed its way to a 6-3 win last night in St. Louis, avoiding a three-game sweep by the Cardinals. Nevertheless, they’re still mired in a 1-4 skid overall, and come into this series on losing ruts of 14-29 in series openers, 2-6 at home and 3-6 against winning teams.

Though we’re not listing Braden Looper, might be good to note he is 3-1 in eight appearances (two starts) against the Tigers. In addition, the Brew Crew is 6-1 in his last seven starts against winning teams.

On the other hand, Detroit has dropped seven of Armando Galarraga’s last nine starts, as the righty has failed to record a win in almost two months - since April 26. Galarraga is 0-7 in those nine outings, allowing 38 runs over 45-1/3 innings, for a sky-high 7.54 ERA.

The Tigers are also 1-5 the last six times he’s pitched in series openers, so the Brewers should be able to hit him quite easily.

Take the slim road pup here.


UNDER Astros/Twins (WITH Oswalt/Slowey) - A pair of incredible ace hurlers will toe the slab tonight, and though it takes place in the Homer Domer, I’ll look for this one to stay low. Houston’s Roy Oswalt and Minnesota’s Kevin Slowey will put on a show for anyone who likes pitching duels.

Minnesota improved to 7-2 in Interleague play with a 5-1 win over Pittsburgh last night, the Twins are 21-6 against the senior circuit since the start of last season and Slowey is looking to become the majors’ second 10-game winner. That’s the motivation for the home team.

And since Slowey is 6-1 with a 2.58 ERA in nine starts versus NL foes, I expect Oswalt to accept the challenge and turn this into a showcase from the mound. The Houston right-hander comes in with a 10-7 mark and 3.48 ERA in 24 Interleague starts, while he’s 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances against the Twins.

Slowey has been overpowering, which will be good enough to shut down the Astros’ lineup, while Oswalt has seemingly re-established his breaking ball and will keep the Twins off-balance to keep his team in this one.

I am not game enough to take the obvious choice with the Twins, as it looks too easy; instead we play this one under.