Major League Baseball

Mariners-Brewers Preview

Published Jun. 27, 2010 12:33 a.m. ET

foxsports

Part of a talented starting rotation, Seattle's Jason Vargas has more than held his own this season.

The left-hander looks to continue his surprise season with a fifth straight victory Sunday in the conclusion of the Mariners' road series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

After entering spring training hoping to simply win a spot in Seattle's rotation, Vargas (6-2, 2.66 ERA) is among the AL leaders in ERA with teammate Cliff Lee (2.39). He's also outpitched fellow Mariner Felix Hernandez (5-5, 3.28) through the first three months of the season.

"He's confident, even-tempered, and positive. Those are the three things that come to mind," manager Don Wakamatsu told the Mariners' official website. "He's a very level-headed kid."

Vargas, who couldn't stick with Florida and the New York Mets before going 3-6 with a 4.91 ERA for Seattle in 2009, allowed four hits and struck out seven in seven innings of a 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. He is 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last nine starts.

"When you don't have above-average stuff like some starters, you have to repeatedly attack the strike zone so the hitter doesn't get a chance to breathe or regroup," said Vargas, who has allowed a run in 14 2-3 innings over his last two starts. "It gets them off their timing and rhythm."

Making his first start against Milwaukee, Vargas may be needed to put forth another long outing to save a short-handed bullpen.

Reliever Shawn Kelley is on the disabled list with an elbow injury and Brandon League has moved into the closer role while David Aardsma is away for the birth of his child. Brian Sweeney likely won't be available after throwing four scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Brewers.

Jose Lopez hit a two-run homer and Milton Bradley added a solo shot as Seattle (31-43) avoided a third straight loss. The Mariners have won seven of nine overall.

Lopez is batting .325 during a 10-game hitting streak.

Prince Fielder homered Saturday for the Brewers (33-41), who had their season-high five-game winning streak snapped. After totaling 31 runs during that span, Milwaukee was limited to a four-run third inning Saturday.

"We weren't able to do much after that. It took the air out of us,'' said right fielder Corey Hart, batting .333 with 15 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.

Fielder is 4 for 12 with a pair of home runs in his last three games. Seven of his 15 homers this season have come in 14 interleague games.

Milwaukee's Chris Narveson (6-4, 5.76) takes the ball looking for a second straight victory Sunday.

The left-hander allowed three runs in five innings of a 7-5 win over Minnesota on Tuesday. He is 5-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 11 starts after spending the season's first month in the bullpen.

"It's a mentality a lot of times," Narveson told the Brewers' official website. "I think you're just trying to help the team win the game any way you can."

Narveson is making his first appearance against the Mariners.