Milwaukee @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) Milwaukee 8, Miami 5

The Milwaukee Brewers were thought to be out of wild-card contention when they were 12 games below .500 with just 42 games left. But Milwaukee has responded with a 13-3 surge and is suddenly only 6 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second National League wild-card spot entering Thursday’s series finale against the host Miami Marlins. Milwaukee is riding a powerful attack that belted three homers Wednesday to raise its NL-leading count to 173.

Miami is heading in the other direction with six losses in its last seven games. The Marlins are a staggering 17 games under .500 in manager Ozzie Guillen’s first year at the helm. Miami has just two victories during a nine-game homestand that ends Thursday. Milwaukee’s Rickie Weeks smashed two homers and had four RBIs in Wednesday’s victory and is batting .484 (15-for-31) during a seven-game hitting streak. The Brewers are two games below .500 for the first time since they were 12-14 on May 4.

TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (2-5, 3.85 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Josh Johnson (7-11, 3.86)

Estrada has been sensational over his last three starts, allowing one earned run in 18 innings and picking up his only two wins of the season. He took a no-decision in his last outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he gave up one run and four hits and struck out 10 in seven innings. Estrada wasn’t involved in the decision when he held Miami to two runs and four hits in six innings on July 3. He is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in six career appearances (two starts) against the Marlins.

Johnson has lost four straight decisions and has a five-start winless streak dating back to August 3. He pitched superbly against the New York Mets in his last outing but received a no-decision despite giving up one run and three hits in eight innings. Johnson allowed five runs and six hits in five innings against the Brewers on July 4 in a no-decision. He is 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA in six career starts against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee’s Corey Hart had four RBIs on Wednesday and also hit his 27th homer, second-most in his career behind the 31 he hit in 2010.

2. Marlins 22-year-old OF Giancarlo Stanton has 86 career homers. Hall of Famer Mel Ott holds the record of 115 career homers before the age of 23.

3. Brewers closer John Axford has saved each of the last two games and has converted seven straight opportunities after blowing eight of his first 26 chances.