Now, this isn’t so bad, is it?

After a perfectly panicked start, sending their fans straight to their shrinks, the beloved Brewers returned to form away from home, posting their first consecutive series victories of 2009. The Brewers did so by posting a more even runs differential on the road; they scored 37 runs over the nine-game trip, and allowed 34 runs.

Even better, subtracting the 11-4 blowout in Philly, the Brewers posted a 33-23 advantage, and won 4 of 7 games that stood within 3 runs (1-3 in one-run games, 2-0 in two-run games, and 1-0 in three-run games). The Brewers were able to accomplish this by playing a more flexible style of baseball, which featured timely hitting, power hitting, and of course, good pitching.

All in all, it’s good to be home, especially after the road treated the Brewers kindly.

Last 4 GS (where available):

Jeff Karstens (1-0, 2 GS, 3.60 runs average, 5.00 IP/GS; 1 quality start) @ Braden Looper (2-0, 3 GS, 2.12 runs average, 5.67 IP/GS; 2 quality starts)

After coming over from the Yankees in a trade, Karstens is making the transition to become a serviceable middle rotation pitcher for the Pirates. Without the hype or stuff of the Yankees’ other prospects, Karstens gets by in the National League switching up his pitches, mostly featuring his fastball, slider, and change up thus far in 2009. The right-hander has a good chance to build his game while pitching for the Pirates’ (surprising) rotation, and that opportunity pays all the better given the Pirates’ current start to the season.

Once again, Looper takes the mound at Miller Park, but this time he is pitching in front of a team that is suddenly putting things together at the plate and in the field. The Brewers’ middle rotation righty has been just what the doctor ordered thus far, pitching quality starts and helping to keep the Brewers in a position to win each of his starts. This might be exactly what one expects from a middle rotation, veteran sinkerballer, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not exciting to watch a solid, professional pitcher take the mound and consistently execute his game plan.

Paul Maholm (3-0, 4 GS, 2.36 runs average, 6.68 IP/GS; 3 quality starts) @ Dave Bush (1-0, 4 G, 3 GS, 3.86 runs average, 5.25 IP/G; 3 quality starts)

If he keeps this up, Maholm will no longer be one of the National League’s best kept secrets. An under-the-radar ace in 2008, Maholm is following up that campaign in spades, mixing up his breaking and off-speed pitches, and hiding that fastball as much as possible. Maholm is probably one of the best examples in baseball of a left-hander who can throw anything in any count, for a strike, and therefore keep his fastball as a weapon, even if it isn’t the hardest fastball on the planet. Keep an eye on this kid.

After a serious no-hit bid, Bush returns to Milwaukee with his approach and game in full working order. The Brewers sinkerballer is working consistent quality starts for the Brewers, asserting himself as the staff’s de facto veteran ace. Bush will not ever be a pitcher that blows batters away, but he is slowly moving from a consistent pitcher that will eat innings to become a consistent pitcher that will eat quality innings. According to FanGraphs, the righty is accomplishing that with a cutter that features more prominently in his arsenal than at any point in his career. This is in addition to his other fastballs, curve, and change.

Ian Snell (1-2, 4 GS, 5.32 runs average, 5.50 IP/GS; 2 quality starts) @ Yovani Gallardo (2-1, 4 GS, 3.71 runs average, 6.68 IP/GS; 3 quality starts)

So far, so good – sort of. Snell’s 2009 campaign is looking slightly better than his 2008 season thus far, as the one-time ace-in-training looks to find the results to accompany his electric fastball and slider combo. There was a time, it seemed, that Snell was unquestionably the best pitcher in the Pirates’ young core; now it seems as though he is working to function as a strong middle rotation option. Snell is featuring a third pitch more prominently this season, which allows him to lay off of the fastball / slider combo a bit, which should aid his ability to keep batters off balance.

Gallardo takes the mound after pitching his first career complete game, a strong effort executed with incredible efficiency – the righty threw just over 100 pitches to complete his effort, and set the team on the right track in Houston. One of Gallardo’s strengths – which I consistently mention here – was on full display during his complete game bid, and that is his ability to consistently mix pitches, and do so for strikes. The youngster prominently featured his fastball, and used both his curveball and slider almost equally, which helped him to work at several different velocity levels throughout the game; he consistently worked between 93, 90, 85, and 80 MPH, with control, retiring Astros batter with relative ease.