(Sports Network) - Big southpaw CC Sabathia can continue what has been a remarkable run of National League dominance today, when the Milwaukee Brewers close out a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
A 6-foot-7, 290-pounder, Sabathia was a disappointing 6-8 in 18 starts with the Cleveland Indians before a midseason trade brought him to Milwaukee for a myriad prospects. Sabathia has been nothing short of sensational since, however, going 8-0 with a stingy 1.89 earned run average over 10 starts and tossing five complete games. The Brewers are 9-1 when he takes the hill.
The former first-round draft choice (1998, Cleveland) has lasted at least 6 2/3 innings in all 10 starts, has surrendered three earned runs or less in that time and has struck out nine batters or more in five of the 10 outings.
Sabathia scattered eight hits and allowed a run over six innings against the Pirates in a no-decision on August 24, and is 2-0 lifetime against them with a 1.61 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 28 innings.
For Pittsburgh, righty Jeff Karstens will try to regain the magic touch he brought with him after coming to the Pirates from the New York Yankees.
In the deal that sent Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady to the Bronx, Karstens was 2-0 in his initial two starts with the Pirates and allowed just seven hits over his first 15 scoreless innings.
He has lost three straight efforts since, however, allowing 22 hits and 12 earned runs in 16 innings in defeats to the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.
The 25-year-old got brief tastes of the majors with the Yankees in 2006-07, making 15 combined appearances -- nine starts -- and going 3-5 while surrendering 67 hits and 36 earned runs in 57 1/3 innings.
He has never faced the Brewers.
On Saturday, Mike Cameron hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI as the Brewers dominated the Pirates, 11-3.
Bill Hall and Jason Kendall each drove in a pair of runs, while Corey Hart hit a solo home run and scored three times for the Brewers, who have won seven of their last eight games.
Jeff Suppan (10-7) lasted seven innings and gave up two runs on three hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts for Milwaukee, which leads St. Louis and Philadelphia by 5 1/2 games for the NL Wild Card spot and now trails Chicago by 5 1/2 games for first place in the NL Central.
Milwaukee has won 10 of its 11 matchups with the Bucs this season, including four of the five meetings in the Steel City.
Brandon Moss hit a two-run homer and Paul Maholm (8-8) was rocked for six runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work for the Pirates, who are on a season-high nine-game losing streak.
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