AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — Auburn, holding the nation’s fifth-best winning percentage, will host Milwaukee on Friday at 7 p.m., with first-pitch temperatures expected in the [temperature] range.

The Tigers (38-19) enter the non-conference matchup as 7.5-run favorites, according to BetMGM, despite a simulation by Interstat projecting an 8-5 Milwaukee victory. Auburn’s pitching staff, led by right-hander Ryan Hetzler, will look to contain a Panthers lineup that has averaged 7.6 runs over its last five games.

Hetzler (5-2, 3.12 ERA) has been effective in limited workloads this month. In his most recent start May 23 against Arkansas, he allowed two earned runs on three hits over five innings with eight strikeouts. The Tigers lost that game 2-1. Hetzler has not surrendered an earned run in three of his past four appearances, including a two-inning stint May 16 against Georgia in which he gave up one hit and struck out two.

Milwaukee (25-31) counters with right-hander Gavin Theis, who turned in a dominant eight-inning, five-hit, zero-earned-run, six-strikeout performance May 23 in a 5-4 win over Wright State. That start was a stark turnaround from his previous outing May 14, when he allowed four earned runs in 1⅔ innings against Oakland, and a May 8 start at Youngstown State in which he surrendered eight earned runs in 3⅓ innings. Theis is 4-6 with a 5.77 ERA.

The Panthers’ offense has been bolstered by catcher Joey Spence, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs against Wright State, and center fielder Dylan O’Connell, who drove in two runs in that game.

Auburn’s recent history includes a 7-0 win at Texas A&M on May 22 before losing the Arkansas series finale. The Tigers’ bullpen, anchored by Alex Petrovic (four-inning, two-hit, seven-strikeout relief outing May 23), has been a strength.

Milwaukee has won three of its last four, including a 14-2 rout of Northern Kentucky on May 21 and a 12-11, 11-inning victory over Oakland on May 14. The Panthers are 7-6 in May.

Both teams are in postseason contention. Auburn is projected as a regional host, while Milwaukee is fighting to climb above .500 in Horizon League play.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Plainsman Park.