Brewers going with "opener" concept tonight, as Nats send Strasburg to mound

Could be an interesting pitching matchup tonight between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals.

Stephen Strasburg takes the mound for the Nats, sporting a 3-1 record with a 3.45 ERA. The 30-year-old righty has 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44¹⁄3 innings this season.

For the Brewers, things will be a little different. Manager Craig Counsell is going with an “opener” route to his staff, which means they don’t really have a traditional starter.

Freddy Peralta was slated to start with his 0-1 record and 10.50 ERA. He’s given up seven home runs in 21²⁄3 innings.

So, Counsell will open for a few innings, perhaps, Adrian Houser, who is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two games this season — one start.

Counsell told reporters Peralta “is going to be involved in the game.”

“We’re trying to win the game and get Freddy back on track, and doing anything we can to do that,” Counsell added. “That’s what we’re considering.”

Strasburg is 0-2 with 4.74 ERA in his career against the Brewers in four starts.

Current Milwaukee hitters are 15-for-76 (.197) against him. Christian Yelich is 9-for-39 (.231) against Strasburg. Yasmani Grandal is the only other Brewers player with at least 10 at-bats vs. Strasburg (3-for-10, double, home run, two RBI).

However, Strasburg has 1.25 ERA in his past three starts with 29 strikeouts in 21²⁄3 innings. Opposing batters have a .162 average against him during that span.