Milwaukee hasn’t delivered yet after a promising offseason. The club already boasted a fearsome lineup while revamping the pitching rotation. At least a small part of the problem has been the absence of Zack Greinke. The former Kansas City Royal has been injured but will make his debut against Atlanta. Marco Estrada, Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum are also slated to go against the Braves.

Greinke, of course, won a Cy Young award with the Royals. The youngster is supposed to lead a strong trio of himself, Gallardo and Marcum. Marcum (3-1, 2.21 ERA) was imported from the Blue Jays and has played brilliantly; the righty has enjoyed shutout performances in three of his seven starts this season.

Gallardo (2-1, 5.70 ERA), on the other hand, has been puzzling. The righty has a 3.81 career ERA and averages over a strikeout per inning, but he simply hasn’t had his best stuff this season. Gallardo has allowed four runs or more in each of his past four starts.

The Braves have 12/1 NL pennant odds and were a sleeper pick by some pundits. Atlanta is also struggling a bit out of the gate. A turnaround isn’t likely in the immediate future after a series of off-the-field incidents.

Pitching coach Roger McDowell has been placed on administrative leave as the team investigates an incident in San Francisco last week that allegedly involved homophobic slurs and obscene gestures and threats to some Giants fans. As if that wasn’t enough, right-handed pitcher Derek Lowe was arrested for DUI last Thursday night.

Jair Jurrjens (2-0, 1.23 ERA), Tommy Hanson (3-3, 2.57 ERA), Tim Hudson (3-2, 3.48 ERA) and Brandon Beachy (1-1, 3.47 ERA) are expected to pitch against the Brewers.

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