BASEBALL PREVIEW: Brewers at Astros

HOUSTON (Interstat) — A split doubleheader is on tap Sunday at Daikin Park as the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Houston Astros in a matinee and evening twin bill.

The day game (1:10 p.m. CDT) features Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 3.41 ERA) against an Astros lineup that roughed up Milwaukee 9-2 on Saturday. The nightcap (6:10 p.m.) will see Brewers righty Tatsuya Imai (2-2, 4.20 ERA) face Houston. The forecast calls for 92 degrees with clouds.

Milwaukee (34-21) leads the National League Central by five games and has won eight of its last 11. Houston (27-33) sits fourth in the AL West, 5½ games back, but has won five of its past seven.

The Brewers split the first two games of this series, taking Friday’s opener 5-4 in 10 innings before Saturday’s loss.

Players to watch

Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat struggled in Saturday’s loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits over 4⅓ innings with four strikeouts. Over his past six appearances, Sproat is 3-2 with a 4.77 ERA, though he tossed four scoreless frames with five strikeouts against St. Louis on May 6.

Astros right-hander AJ Blubaugh has been effective in relief, earning the win Saturday with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts. In his last 10 outings, Blubaugh has a 2.04 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 17⅔ innings.

Recent results

In Saturday’s 9-2 loss, catcher William Contreras drove in Milwaukee’s only run with a single. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Houston starter Peter Lambert allowed two earned runs over five innings.

Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff is expected back from the injured list this week.

Projection

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Milwaukee win. The Brewers are -1.5 favorites, with the over/under at 8 runs.

Up next

Milwaukee returns home Monday to open a four-game series against San Francisco. Houston hosts Pittsburgh for three games beginning Tuesday.