Squeeze Play: Pirates @ Brewers

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Left-hander Zach Duke and the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-15) will take on righty ace Jeff Suppan and the Milwaukee Brewers (19-10) at 7:05pm ET tonight, as the Brew Crew look to move 10 games above .500 for the first time in nearly 15 years, and become the first National League club to 20 wins this season.

Suppan pitched well in their last meeting on April 19th at Miller Park, giving up three runs in six innings of a 7-3 victory. He is 8-3 in 15 career starts versus the Pirates, boasting a 6-0 record and 2.37 ERA in seven starts when pitching against them at home.

Duke was the losing pitcher in that April matchup, getting roughed up for seven runs and 11 hits in just four innings. He is 3-2 in eight lifetime starts against the Brew Crew, but is 0-2 with a 7.91 ERA in four starts at Milwaukee.

Keep an eye out for Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is batting .413 with eight doubles and six homers during his current career-best 15-game hitting streak.


More NL Games Today...

• Nationals (9-20) @ Cubs (13-14) 1:05pm ET
• Astros (12-16) @ Cardinals (11-16) 1:10pm ET
• Phillies (13-16) @ Giants (15-13) 3:55pm ET
• Dodgers (17-12) @ Braves (18-10) 7:05pm ET
• Padres (15-14) @ Marlins (14-14) 7:05pm ET
• Rockies (12-17) @ Reds (13-16) 7:10pm ET
• Mets (18-10) @ Diamondbacks (16-15) 9:40pm ET

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Right-hander Julian Tavarez and the Boston Red Sox (19-9) look to be the third consecutive club to hand lefty ace Johan Santana a loss at the Metrodome after he recorded 17-straight home victories when they face the Minnesota Twins (15-14) in the second contest of the three-game set at 7:10pm ET tonight.

The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner hasn't had his best stuff versus Boston, with a 3-4 record and 3.55 ERA in 11 lifetime games against them, including eight starts. The four losses are Santana's second most versus any opponent.

The veteran Tavarez is 2-2 with a 5.26 ERA in 16 career games, including four starts, versus the Twins. This could be one of his last starts for awhile as Tavarez is expected to eventually be replaced by Jon Lester, who is making his courageous comeback from cancer.

After totaling 42 hits in their previous three games, the Twins managed only four in a 2-0 loss to Boston in Friday's series opener. However, gold glove center fielder Torii Hunter is on fire lately, riding a career-high 19-game hitting streak while batting .380 with five homers, 11 doubles and 17 RBIs during that span.

Boston's designated hitter, David Ortiz hit his 200th career homer as a DH in the sixth inning yesterday, tying Chili Davis for sixth all-time. Big Papi, who played his first six seasons with the Twins, is batting .351 against his former team.

More AL Games Today...

• White Sox (12-14) @ Angels (17-13) 3:35pm ET
• Mariners (13-11) @ Yankees (12-15) 3:55pm ET
• Indians (17-9) @ Orioles (13-16) 7:05pm ET
• Tigers (17-11) @ Royals (10-20) 7:10pm ET
• Athletics (14-14) @ Devil Rays (13-16) 7:10pm ET
• Blues Jays (13-16) @ Rangers (11-18) 8:05pm ET

[MLB]