Opposite dugout: Power surge has Brewers sitting atop NL Central

Manager: Craig Counsell (3rd season)

Record: 44-40

Last 10 games: 5-5

Who to watch: 1B Eric Thames (.243 with 21 HR, 41 RBIs); 3B Travis Shaw (.291 with 17 HR, 59 RBIs); SS Orlando Arcia (.288 with 8 HR, 27 RBIs); RHP Jimmy Nelson (6-4, 3.43 ERA); RHP Corey Knebel (1.13 ERA, 13 saves)

Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (2-1 in 2014)

Pitching probables:

July 3: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Brent Suter; 2:10 p.m., MASN
July 4: RHP Ubaldo Jiménez vs. RHP Jimmy Nelson; 4:10 p.m., MASN2
July 5: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Matt Garza, 7:10 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Brewers:

Fans of throwback baseball are in for a treat this week. Twenty years ago, an Orioles-Brewers matchup wasn't an odd occurrence. In fact, before Milwaukee was sent over to the National League prior to the 1998 season, the Brewers spent their days in the American League, including several years in the AL East with the Orioles. Now, of course, the Brewers reside in the NL Central, where they continue to be one of the surprise clubs of 2017. A 44-40 record has them in first place, only slightly ahead of the defending world champion Cubs. That's in part due to an offense that, while only in the middle of the pack in terms of average (.253), packs a huge punch. Entering this afternoon's series opener, the Brewers lead the NL with 125 home runs. The Orioles certainly know a little something about the longball, which could make for some nicely-timed fireworks over the next few days.

First baseman Eric Thames has certainly provided a spark in the Brewers lineup. Thames raced out of the gate this season, smacking 11 home runs in April. It was a big wakeup call for fans, who may have wondered what happened to Thames since he last played in the majors in 2012. Thames spent time in between playing in the Korea Baseball Organization, where he captured the 2015 award for Most Valuable Player. Now, the 30-year-old is back with a vengeance and is part of the reason the Brewers sit atop their division. Yet while Thames has filled up the highlight reel for much of the season, his teammate across the diamond might just be having a better season. After spending two years with the Red Sox, third baseman Travis Shaw is having a banner year in Milwaukee. He leads the team in batting average (.291), RBIs (59) and hits (81) while his 17 home runs have already surpassed his total from a year ago. Right fielder Domingo Santiago also provides a bit of pop in the lineup, tallying 14 home runs and a .278 average.

Tuesday's starter Jimmy Nelson has rebounded nicely from a year ago when he posted a dismal 8-16 record. Nelson is 6-4 this season and went 3-1 in six starts in June. He's posted double-digit strikeouts in two of his last three outings and boasts a 2.64 ERA at home. The O's will see a familiar face on Wednesday when Matt Garza takes the hill in the series finale. Garza has 13 career starts against the Orioles, though none since 2014, and is 9-1 with a 3.11 ERA. This season, however, Garza is battling some inconsistency, posting a 4.36 ERA and failing to pitch more than six innings in a start since May 6.

It took until May 14 for Corey Knebel to earn his first save of the season, but since then the Brewers closer has picked up a baker's dozen, along with a 1.13 ERA. The rest of the bullpen, however, has struggled a bit. Relievers Jacob Barnes and Carlos Torres each have ERAs hovering around 4.00 while Oliver Drake, who was traded to the Brewers from the Orioles in April, has allowed 15 earned runs in 30 2/3 innings pitched.