AP Sports Preview: Mets at Brewers

MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — The Milwaukee Brewers look to build on their National League Central lead Tuesday night when they host the New York Mets at American Family Field.

First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. CDT under rain in the forecast, with temperatures around 77 degrees.

Milwaukee (62-37) enters with the best record in the NL. The Brewers beat the Mets 3-0 on Monday night, the opener of a three-game series. New York (42-58) has lost three of its last four.

Pitching matchup

The Mets will start right-hander Brandon Sproat (3-4, 4.10 ERA). Sproat allowed two runs over five innings in a no-decision against Boston on July 10. The Mets have also listed left-hander Zac Thornton (0-1) as a possible starter, though Thornton has not made an appearance since June.

Milwaukee has not announced a starter for Tuesday.

Players to watch

For the Mets, right-hander Nolan McLean has been dominant over his last four starts. Since July 5, McLean is 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA, striking out 29 over 24 innings. He threw six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in a 6-1 win at Philadelphia on Sunday.

For the Brewers, left-hander Robert Gasser (6-3) is coming off a solid outing: five innings, one earned run, five strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Miami on Sunday. Gasser was tagged for seven earned runs in three innings July 12 at Pittsburgh, but rebounded with 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball July 7 at St. Louis.

Recent results

New York beat Philadelphia 6-1 on Sunday, with shortstop Francisco Lindor going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.

Milwaukee has won four of its last five, including a sweep of the Marlins over the weekend. Catcher William Contreras hit a pinch-hit three-run homer in the series finale.

Projection and betting

The game simulator from Interstat projects a 6-5 Brewers victory. Milwaukee is a -1.5 run-line favorite. The over/under is 8.5 runs.

Up next

The clubs conclude the series Wednesday. The Mets then return home for a six-game homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. The Brewers host the Colorado Rockies for three games beginning Friday before a six-game road trip to San Francisco and the Los Angeles Angels.