The lineup has gone quiet during one of the New York Mets' worst stretches this season.
A three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers and their dismal pitching staff might be at least a temporary elixir for those woes beginning Tuesday night at Miller Park.
The Mets (36-35) have fallen out of first place in the NL East during a season high-tying five-game losing streak. They've scored one or no runs four times during the slide and lost 1-0 at Atlanta on Sunday, wasting a third quality start in five games.
"We're getting used to it, really," manager Terry Collins said. "Some pretty good pitching and we can't score. It's a little frustrating for everybody."
Ruben Tejada is the only player batting better than .211 over the last five games, though he sat out Sunday after bruising his left ankle on a slide. Dilson Herrera is 1 for 14, while Juan Lagares is 3 for 19.
Daniel Murphy, who leads the team with a .283 batting average, is still sidelined by a strained left quad, while Travis d'Arnaud is day to day with a hyperextended left elbow.
Lucas Duda could be the key to getting New York on track in this series. He's batting .179 since May 31 but has nine RBI in seven career games at Milwaukee, hitting three homers in the last four.
The Mets took two of three from the Brewers from May 15-17, including a 14-1 win in the middle game.
Milwaukee (25-46) has dropped eight of nine with starters posting a 7.90 ERA. The rotation's 5.08 ERA ranks last in baseball.
Matt Garza was shelled for seven earned runs and 13 hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 10-4 loss at Colorado on Sunday.
"They had a lot of flares," catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "That's been the story of the season so far. Maybe we need to sacrifice some chickens or something."
Chalking up the season-long pitching struggles to the baseball gods frowning upon the Brewers may be a bit strong, though opponents own a .317 average on balls in play -- the second-highest mark in the NL.
New York's Jonathon Niese (3-7, 4.21 ERA) is trying to end a career-worst seven-start winless streak. The left-hander has lost five decisions with a 6.30 ERA in that span.
Niese has given the Mets reason to think his slump will end soon, however, stringing together three straight quality starts. He lost 8-0 at Toronto on Wednesday, giving up three runs over seven innings.
Niese is 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA in his last five starts against Milwaukee.
Mike Fiers (3-7, 4.50) has alternated wins and losses for his last five starts, and if that pattern continues, he's set up for a victory.
He was awful Wednesday at Kansas City, though, surrendering a season-high six earned runs over five innings of a 10-2 loss.
Manager Craig Counsell said Carlos Gomez could play after missing nine of the last 12 games due to a hip injury. Gomez has been sidelined for 27 games this season but still ranks fourth on the team with 24 RBI.
The Brewers will hold a moment of silence for former outfielder Darryl Hamilton prior to the game. Hamilton, who played for Milwaukee and New York in addition to three other teams, was found dead Sunday from an apparent murder-suicide at his suburban Houston home.
