The set-up: Seemingly, the Diamondbacks have put last year's 93-loss season behind them, as red-hot Arizona looks for its ninth victory in 10 games while attempting to hand Milwaukee its first four-game losing streak of the season. Arizona opens a four-game series in Milwaukee on Thursday on the heels of sweeping a three-game home series over the White Sox with Wednesday's 8-6 win. The D'backs own MLB's best home record (21-8) but aare more modest 8-11 on the road. Meanwhile, the Brewers have lost three in a row, after having won 10 of 12 contests before their slide. Milwaukee's 25-21 record has them a half-game up on both the Cards and Cubs in the NL Central but the Brewers are under .500 (12-13) here at Miller Park.

The pitching matchup: Robbie Ray (3-3 & 3.91 ERA) gets the start for Arizona and Zach Davies (5-2 & 5.44 ERA) for Milwaukee. Ray snapped a three-decision slide when he allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six in 7 2/3 shutout innings of a 9-1 victory at San Diego on Saturday. That broke a stretch in which the lefty had gone 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA in his previous four starts (team was 0-4), while walking 12 in 21 2/3 innings. Ray has lost his only career start against Milwaukee, allowing five runs in 5 2/3 innings despite striking out 11 in a 6-4 setback last season. Davies permitted two runs, five hits and two walks while striking out three in a season-high six innings of a 4-2 victory in San Diego on May 18. However, he had previously failed to pitch more than 5 2/3 innings in any of his other eight starts this season. Davies has allowed 58 hits over 46 1/3 innings in 2017, giving him a 1.66 WHIP with opponents hitting .309 against him.

The pick: At 29-19, Arizona is 10 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2011 season 94-68. However, the team's struggles on the road are real, as the D'backs average only 3.63 RPG away from Chase Field. Davies' overall numbers are not good but he has allowed two ERs or less in four of his last five. Make the Under a 10* play.