St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 2

The St. Louis Cardinals can wrap up a postseason berth and strengthen their hold on first place in the National League Central when they go for a three-game sweep of the host Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. St. Louis holds a two-game lead over Pittsburgh atop the division and has a magic number of one to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Cardinals have had their way with the Brewers, going 14-4 this season and winning eight of nine games in Milwaukee.

Matt Adams has provided a boost for St. Louis since Allen Craig, the team leader in RBIs, suffered a foot injury on Sept. 4. Adams is 5-for-9 with two homers and five RBIs in the series and has gone deep five times in the last 11 games. Leadoff hitter Norichika Aoki is 6-for-9 in the series for Milwaukee, which will have Aramis Ramirez back in the lineup following a day off after driving in five runs on Friday.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (9-4, 2.74 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (10-15, 4.34)

Kelly had his last start cut short due to tightness in his calf, but he still improved to 9-1 in his last 10 outings by limiting Colorado to three hits in five scoreless innings. Kelly's only loss during his hot stretch came against the Brewers, when he allowed four runs (three earned) in seven innings on Sept. 12. He has surrendered eight runs in eight innings in four appearances versus Milwaukee.

Peralta won two of his last three starts and finally got some offensive support as the Brewers scored a total of 15 runs in the two victories. That followed a streak of eight straight starts in which Milwaukee pushed across only 12 runs and Peralta went 1-5. He limited the Chicago Cubs to one run over six innings last time out and has yielded seven runs in his last three turns.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kelly is a perfect 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 18 appearances (six starts) on the road.

2. The Brewers need a victory Sunday to clinch their first winning homestand since July 19-25.

3. Cardinals 2B Matt Carpenter set a franchise record for doubles by a left-handed batter with 54, eclipsing the mark previously held by Hall of Famer Stan Musial.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Brewers 3