Minus top run producers, Guardians out to deny Brewers sweep

The injury-riddled Cleveland Guardians will turn to Parker Messick as they try to avoid a sweep against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in the finale of a three-game series.

Messick (6-3, 2.68 ERA) will face Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.59) in a matchup of left-handers. Each will be facing the opponent for the first time in his career.

Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio homered to pace Milwaukee to a 9-4 victory on Wednesday, moving the NL Central-leading Brewers a season-high 19 games above .500.

Daniel Schneemann accounted for all of the Guardians' runs with a fourth-inning grand slam that cut the deficit to 5-4. With starters Chase DeLauter, Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez all on the injured list, Cleveland managed just three hits.

DeLauter (ribcage), Ramirez (hand), and Martinez (foot) all were injured in Cleveland's 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. DeLauter was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, and outfielder Kahlil Watson was recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

"We took a big hit over the weekend," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said following the Wednesday game. "It's been two games and it's going to take this offense some time to get its cadence and get its rhythm."

The three injured players are Cleveland's top RBI producers. Martinez has a team-high 11 homers along with 33 RBIs. Ramirez has 10 homers and 33 RBIs, and DeLauter has seven homers and a team-leading 34 RBIs.

"We've got to keep working, got to keep going and we're going to get better," Vogt said.

Cleveland has dropped 10 of its past 15 games.

Messick has won just once in five starts since mid-May. He has lost both of his outings this month, allowing eight runs (seven earned) in 11 1/3 innings.

Messick yielded five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings in his latest start, an 8-4 home loss to the New York Yankees on June 10. He struck out four.

Drohan will make his fourth consecutive start after 10 straight relief appearances. He is 1-1 with a 5.28 ERA in three starts this month, having allowed nine runs on 17 hits in 15 1/3 innings.

Drohan took the loss in his most recent appearance, giving up four runs on eight hits in five-plus innings during a 9-8 home defeat against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. He fanned seven and walked one.

Highly touted Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt singled twice, drove in one run and stole a base on Wednesday after going 0-for-3 and committing an error in his major league debut on Tuesday.

"Yesterday, I was just kind of trying to figure out the schedule, trying to figure out where I was supposed to be, when I was supposed to be there and not be late. Trying to figure the ins and outs, kind of," Pratt said following the Wednesday game. "Today, after having yesterday, knowing when to do stuff, not being rushed. And then I was more relaxed as I got the first one out of the way and then it was just like, 'You had your day, now it's time to play.'"

Chourio has been on a tear, socking six homers in his past seven games. He is hitting .370 (27-for-73) over his past 17 games with nine homers, four doubles and 23 RBIs.

--Field Level Media