Yankees-Brewers Preview

Though their star outfielder is nearing a return from the disabled list, the Milwaukee Brewers could be without another key contributor for the immediate future.

It's uncertain if Aramis Ramirez will be available Sunday against the visiting New York Yankees, who will have their leader back in the lineup.

Ramirez entered this series 2 for 42 in his previous 12 contests, but he's 3 for 6 in the set and hit one of Milwaukee's three homers off CC Sabathia in Saturday's 5-4 victory. However, he would then leave the game with a strained left hamstring suffered while fielding a bouncing ball in the fourth inning.

''Sixteen years in the big leagues and I've never had a hamstring injury before, so I don't know what to expect,'' said Ramirez, who will be evaluated Sunday.

The veteran slugger is batting .433 (13 for 30) against the Yankees.

Milwaukee (23-14) is already without Ryan Braun, who is expected to come off the DL next week.

The NL Central-leading Brewers snapped a three-game skid Saturday after Rickie Weeks delivered a tiebreaking single in the seventh and Francisco Rodriguez improved to 15 of 15 on save chances.

"It was good to go out there with a tie ballgame at the time and come through,'' said Weeks, who recorded his first RBI in 24 games this season. "We're up for the challenge."

Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run homer for Milwaukee, which won for the third time in 10 games. The veteran catcher is batting .362 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 15 interleague contests.

Scheduled Milwaukee starter Matt Garza (2-3, 4.93 ERA) yielded five runs and four walks in three innings of a 9-3 loss at St. Louis on April 30, but gave up three runs in six innings of an 8-3 home victory over Arizona on Monday. The right-hander is 0-1 with an 8.36 ERA in three road outings, compared to 2-2 with a 3.21 ERA at Miller Park this season.

Garza allowed an unearned run in 7 1-3 innings of a 3-1 win against the Yankees (19-16) last season with Texas. He was 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA in his previous nine starts versus New York.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is hitting .324 (11 for 34) against Garza, and is expected to play after he was rested Saturday with a day game following a night contest.

"I like to play every day," Jeter, who was 5 for 11 in his previous three games before going 0 for 4 during Friday's 5-3 victory, told the Yankees' official website.

"This game, it's an everyday game, so I don't like days off. But that's nothing new. It's been like that since '96."

Brendan Ryan replaced Jeter on Saturday and had two hits as New York had its three-game winning streak end.

Teammate Mark Teixeira hit his sixth home run, and has 11 of his 15 RBIs in his last 11 contests. However, he's 2 for 21 versus Garza.

New York's David Phelps (0-0, 3.18) will make his second straight start after his first nine appearances came out of the bullpen. Starting in place of the suspended Michael Pineda, Phelps allowed a run and three hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

The right-hander is 7-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 24 career starts, but has never faced Milwaukee in any capacity.

Mark Reynolds is the only Brewer who has faced Phelps, going 0 for 6 with five walks.