Brewers, Diamondbacks headed in opposite directions

The records say the Arizona Diamondbacks are better than the Milwaukee Brewers. But recent play indicates otherwise.

Both teams had 14-14 records in June, but in July the Brewers have taken off (11-5) while the Diamondbacks have floundered (6-10).

Things point for further success for Milwaukee, which is 22-24 on the road including 8-2 in its last 10 games away from home. Arizona is 23-26 at home and has lost six of its last seven at Chase Field.

COMPARISON SINCE JUNE 23 WITH NL RANKINGS

	Brewers	D-backs
Winning pct.	.708 (1st)	.375 (14th)
Run differential	+54 (1st)	-10 (T9th)
ERA	3.08 (7th)	4.29 (13th)
WHIP	1.20 (7th)	1.34 (11th)
Batting avg.	.303 (1st)	.262 (5th)
Home runs	27 (T1st)	21 (T6th)
OPS	.834 (1st)	.742 (4th)

The Diamondbacks won two of the three games played earlier this season in Milwaukee, but the Brewers have won four of the last five in Arizona.

Here's one thing to expect this series: A lot of runs coming by way of home runs.

HIGHEST % OF RUNS ALLOWED FROM HOMERS IN NL

Team	HR runs	Total runs	Pct.
Brewers	167	424	39.4%
Dodgers	129	333	38.7%
Diamondbacks	158	417	37.9%
Reds	153	410	37.3%
Giants	136	369	36.9%

Other notes:

-- Arizona's starting pitchers have a 4.68 ERA, which is the fourth-highest in the majors.

-- Milwaukee has won all five of Thursday's starter Mike Fiers' last five starts.

-- Since May 1, Fiers has seven starts, including five straight, of six or more innings with four or fewer hits allowed. Only the Dodgers' Zack Greinke (9) has more over that span.

-- Gerardo Parra is scorching hot in July and currently owns the best batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.780) and OPS (1.257) for any Brewers player ever in that month.

-- Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt had three hits in each of the team's previous three games against Milwaukee this season (9 for 14). He is batting .429 in 22 career games against the Brewers.

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