
The Brewers' starting pitching, which figured to be a weak spot at the start of the season, actually has been solid. The Brewers have 15 quality starts, ranking among the best rotations in the majors. The hitting, however, has been sporadic at best. Too many hitters are struggling, including SS J.J. Hardy, C Jason Kendall and 1B Prince Fielder. The Brewers remain too reliant on home runs to score, making it difficult to win games when they don't hit the long ball.
PLAYER NEWS: --2B Rickie Weeks started a game batting in the No. 3 spot in the lineup Sunday for only the second time in his career. He started one game in that spot in 2005 and socked a two-run homer. Otherwise, Weeks has batted primarily in the leadoff spot. Manager Ken Macha said Weeks was swinging the bat "as well as anybody" and used him in the three-hole with LF Ryan Braun out with back stiffness. Weeks was 1-for-4 with a triple.
--OF Brad Nelson got his second start of the year in place of ailing RF Ryan Braun (back stiffness) but was unable to collect his first hit. Nelson went 0-for-3 and is now 0-for-18 for the season with eighth strikeouts. He is 0-for-11 as a pinch-hitter.
--CF Mike Cameron's 1,500th career hit was a big one -- a home run in the second inning off Arizona RHP Yusmeiro Petit. Cameron homered on the next pitch after 1B Prince Fielder socked a long homer to right-center. It was the first time this season the Brewers produced back-to-back homers.
MEDICAL WATCH:
LF Ryan Braun (back tightness) didn't play May 2-3. He is day-to-day.
C Mike Rivera (sprained left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29.
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.
ROTATION:
RHP Jeff Suppan
RHP Yovani Gallardo
LHP Manny Parra
RHP Braden Looper
RHP Dave Bush
BULLPEN:
RHP Trevor Hoffman (closer)
RHP Todd Coffey
RHP Carlos Villanueva
RHP Seth McClung
LHP Mitch Stetter
RHP Jorge Julio
RHP Mark DiFelice
CATCHERS:
Jason Kendall
Carlos Corporan
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