MILWAUKEE -- Ben Sheets is pitching like the ace the
Milwaukee Brewers envisioned.
Sheets gets the start on Monday in the opener of a three-game
series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 27-year-old Sheets struggled with inconsistency throughout
his first four-plus seasons with the Brewers. However, he has
pitched like an All-Star over the last seven weeks.
After opening the season with a 1-5 record, Sheets has rebounded
to go 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA over his last nine starts - eight of
which he has allowed three earned runs or fewer.
The 6-1, 218-pound righthander is 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA in five
career starts against Arizona.
The Diamondbacks hand the ball to Mike Gosling (0-2, 4.50), who
makes a spot start. Scheduled starter Brandon Webb has a
stomach virus and did not accompany the team to Milwaukee.
Gosling has made two starts this season, but didn't factor in
the decision in either despite allowing a total of just three
runs - two earned - in 10 innings. The lefthander has allowed
25 hits and 12 walks in 18 innings this year.
Arizona took two of three from Atlanta this past weekend,
including Sunday's rubber game in which Javier Vazquez tossed
eight strong innings and Luis Gonzalez delivered an RBIs single
in a 3-2 triumph.
The Brewers are coming off a disappointing 3-2 loss Sunday in
their rubber game with Cincinnati. Doug Davis pitched eight
solid innings before righthander Julio Santana surrendered a
game-winning homer to Adam Dunn in the ninth inning.