The Brewers rotation was a major concern in the first week but the starters have settled down, turning in four consecutive quality starts. The offense, expected to be robust, has been a disappointment, however. Through 12 games, the Brewers were batting only .224 and had scored only 49 runs. LF Ryan Braun (.222) and 1B Prince Fielder (.175), the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in the lineup, have to get going or the Brewers will continue to struggle to score runs. SS J.J. Hardy (.114) and C Jason Kendall (.129) are off to woeful starts as well.
PLAYER NEWS: --CF Mike Cameron was shaken up during a home-plate collision with Houston C Humberto Quintero in the fourth inning Friday night. Cameron stayed in the game but Quintero was not as fortunate, leaving with a shoulder injury. Cameron was trying to score on a single by SS J.J. Hardy but was thrown out by Houston RF Hunter Pence.
--SS J.J. Hardy was batting .125 in the No. 5 spot in the lineup before manager Ken Macha dropped him to sixth on Thursday in Philadelphia. Hardy singled and homered in that new spot, then collected three singles Friday in Houston from the six-hole.
--RHP Trevor Hoffman made his second minor-league rehab appearance Friday for Class AAA Nashville, and for the second time he allowed two hits and one run in one inning of work. Hoffman allowed a single and double to the first two hitters before retiring the next three. Unless Hoffman reports a problem in his recovery from an oblique strain, he will be activated Sunday before the Brewers' game in Houston.
--RHP Dave Bush, whose no-hit bid was spoiled by a one-out homer in the eighth inning by Philadelphia's Matt Stairs, became the first Brewers starter to go seven innings this season. The Brewers were the last major league club to have a starter go seven innings.
--RHP Todd Coffey will close games in the ninth inning if the Brewers have a lead in Houston on Friday or Saturday. RHP Trevor Hoffman, coming off an oblique strain that has sidelined him since midway through spring training, is expected to be activated and return to closing duty Sunday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP David Riske (right elbow tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10. He will attempt to rehab the elbow through mid-May, but if he is unsuccessful, he might need Tommy John surgery.
RHP Trevor Hoffman (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Nashville on April 21, and he is expected to be activated April 26.
ROTATION:
RHP Jeff Suppan
RHP Yovani Gallardo
LHP Manny Parra
RHP Braden Looper
RHP Dave Bush
BULLPEN:
RHP Todd Coffey (closer)
RHP Carlos Villanueva
RHP Seth McClung
LHP Mitch Stetter
RHP Jorge Julio
RHP Mark DiFelice
LHP R.J. Swindle
CATCHERS:
Jason Kendall
Mike Rivera
INFIELDERS:
1B Prince Fielder
2B Rickie Weeks
SS J.J. Hardy
3B Bill Hall
INF Craig Counsell
INF Casey McGehee
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Ryan Braun
CF Mike Cameron
RF Corey Hart
OF Chris Duffy
OF Brad Nelson
