Rock ‘n’ roll ‘n’ brew / they don’t mean a thing when I compare ‘em next to you
Big picture
Three games this week pit the first-place-by-a-half-game-in-the-AL-East New York Yankees against the NL Central’s three-games-in-first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
With a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee has won five of its last nine, dropping two games apiece to Boston and Tampa Bay on its interleague trip.
I suppose it’s comforting to know that even other first-place teams can’t beat Boston.
This will be the first time the Brewers visit the Bronx since moving to the National League in 1998.
See also, “Brewers, Yankees renew once-intense rivalry” on MLB.com.
Pitching matchups
All games can be found on YES Network.
Tonight, 7:05: Yankees RHP Freddy Garcia (6-6, 3.30) vs. Milwaukee RHP Zack Greinke (7-2, 4.77).
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.: Yankees RHP A.J. Burnett (7-6, 4.15) vs. Milwaukee RHP Shaun Marcum (7-2, 2.95).
Thursday, 1:05 p.m.: Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (10-4, 3.25) vs. Milwaukee LHP Randy Wolf (6-4, 3.20).
Because the series is in New York…
We won’t get to see Bernie Brewer slide in the outfield. And by slide, I mean literally, there’s a big ol’ slide in the outfield, and every time a Brewer homers, Bernie Brewer goes down the slide.
You can’t make this up, guys.
Every time Milwaukee goes long at home, Bernie Brewer goes down a slide. / photo by compujeramey on Flickr
What we could see in New York…
Reliever John Axford’s mustache.
'staaaache.
Whom the Yankees should fear
Four names: Prince Fielder. Ryan Braun. Zack Greinke. Shaun Marcum.
- His highness Prince Fielder is hitting .305/.426/.611, and that last number is second in the NL in slugging. He has a league-leading 68 RBIs and has hit 21 homers this season.
- Baseball-reference.com tells me that Ryan Braun is also known as the Hebrew Hammer? Can someone from Milwaukee confirm this? Because that is priceless if people actually call him that. OK to the good stuff about Double-H (.308/.390/.554). He has a 17-game hitting streak going since June 7 — he has at least one hit in each game, and has three hits in two games. And 38 walks to 49 strikeouts, 16 home runs. I mean, dangerous man.
- Former Kansas City Royal (you know Joe Pos is probably distressed about that) Zack Greinke is a beast. 80 strikeouts to 9 walks this season? A 1.16 WHIP? Just wow.
- Shaun Marcum is just getting back into the swing of things. He missed some time after sustaining  a left hip flexor strain June 17 against Boston. He threw just three innings, 54 pitches, against the Rays last Wednesday, but the Brewers say he’ll be back to his 100-plus pitch workload by the time he starts Wednesday.
