Diamondbacks @ Brewers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Arizona Diamondbacks (64-64)

@ Milwaukee Brewers (65-62)

Starting Pitchers:

Kelly (ARI): 9-12; 4.63 ERA

Lyles (MIL) 7-8; 4.98 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Arizona Diamondbacks: 5-5

Milwaukee Brewers: 4-6

Current odds:

Arizona Diamondbacks: (+137)

Milwaukee Brewers: (-147)

• The Milwaukee Brewers are not having much luck while going head-to-head against teams in the wild card fight in the National League, but another chance looms. The Brewers will face their third straight NL contender when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Milwaukee dropped two of three at wild card-leading Washington last weekend and lost twice at St. Louis earlier this week before rallying to win a rain-shortened finale and avoid a three-game sweep on Wednesday, sending the team into play on Thursday three games behind the Cardinals for the second NL wild card.

• Sitting 1 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the wild card race are the Diamondbacks, who had a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 7-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. “It’s been like that all year,” Arizona outfielder Jarrod Dyson told the Arizona Republic after Wednesday’s setback. “We ain’t been able to get over the hump. But you know what? Nobody’s in here hanging our heads. We know it’s a lot of games left. The games have to be played and we’ve got to show up and play them.” The Diamondbacks will try to push back over .500 behind Merrill Kelly while the Brewers counter with fellow right-hander Jordan Lyles on Friday.

• Kelly turned in his best start in a month against San Francisco on Sunday, yielding one run and six hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn a win. The 30-year-old rookie was knocked around for 24 runs and 32 hits in 19 1/3 innings over his previous four outings. Kelly did not factor in the decision at home against Milwaukee on July 18 despite allowing one run and three hits across seven innings.

• Lyles fared well in his first three starts after joining the team in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates last month but struggled at Washington on Saturday. The 28-year-old was knocked around for five runs and seven hits – two home runs – over four innings by the Nationals but did not factor in the decision. Lyles faced Arizona while with Pittsburgh on April 24 and suffered the loss while surrendering five runs – four earned – in five innings.

• Brewers 2B-3B Mike Moustakas is 7-for-16 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his last four games.

• Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte drove in at least one run and scored at least one run in each of his last five games.

• Arizona 3B Jake Lamb is 2-for-17 over his last eight contests.