Milwaukee @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2012 ) Milwaukee 3, Miami 7

The Milwaukee Brewers have their sights set on a strong finish and a winning record. The Miami Marlins would like to avoid last place. After throwing a wrench in the National League playoff race with a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Brewers ran into a little trouble in Monday’s opener against Jose Reyes and the Marlins. The 7-3 victory snapped a four-game slide for Miami, which has not won a series at home since the end of July.

Even with Monday’s loss, Milwaukee has won 11 of its last 14 games and is within four (65-69) of reaching .500. The Brewers are enduring a stretch of 14 of 17 on the road but the additional travel has not hurt the offense. Ryan Braun has five multi-hit efforts in the last eight games to lead the team to an average of 6.3 runs in the last 14 contests. Reyes, who stole his 400th career base over the weekend, drove in three runs Monday and has at least one steal in three straight contests.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Shaun Marcum (5-4, 3.35 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Wade LeBlanc (2-3, 2.49)

Marcum was a candidate to be dealt before Aug. 31, but may have scared off potential suitors by walking four while allowing three runs and five hits over four innings at Chicago on Aug. 30. The veteran right-hander has made two starts since coming off the disabled list and has yet to record an out in the sixth inning. Marcum has never faced Miami and is 2-3 with a 2.80 ERA in nine road starts this season.

LeBlanc is being pushed into the rotation as the Marlins expand to a six-man unit for the final month. LeBlanc has started in five of his 19 appearances this season, going 1-2 with a 3.29 ERA in that role. The 28-year-old’s last start came on Aug. 22 at Arizona, when he allowed three runs (two earned) over seven innings to suffer a loss. LeBlanc pitched a scoreless inning of relief against Milwaukee earlier this season and is 2-1 with a 5.56 ERA in four games - two starts - against the Brewers in his career. Braun is 3-for-4 against LeBlanc.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers are expected to call up a group of players Tuesday, following the conclusion of Triple-A Nashville’s season Monday.

2. Marlins rookie RHP Jacob Turner was scheduled to start Tuesday but will be pushed back to Friday as the team monitors his innings.

3. Milwaukee committed a season-high four errors Monday.