Los Angeles @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2011 ) Milwaukee 0, LA Dodgers 3

THE STORY: After improving to 19 games over .500 for the first time since 2008 with a dramatic 2-1 win over the Pirates on Sunday, the Milwaukee Brewers are beginning to look like a team of destiny. They’ll look to build on their National League Central lead on Monday when they begin a four-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept the lowly Houston Astros over the weekend.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, FS Wisconsin

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (7-12, 4.71 ERA) at Brewers LH Randy Wolf (9-8, 3.48 ERA)

Lilly made his second straight quality start last Tuesday against the Phillies, giving up two runs over eight innings. He is 5-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 11 career games – 10 starts – against the Brewers. The Dodgers are 1-5 in Lilly’s last six road starts. Wolf earned the win after allowing one run over eight innings last Wednesday in St. Louis. He has won his last three starts with a 2.57 ERA spanning 21 innings. Wolf is 3-4 with a 3.66 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (55-64): It’s been a rough season for infielder Juan Uribe, and it might get worse this week when he visits with a specialist to check on his strained left hip. Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said Uribe could have a sports hernia or a strained abdominal muscle. Uribe, who signed as a free agent during the offseason, is batting .204 with four home runs in 270 at-bats. The prognosis is clearer for reliever Kenley Jansen (cardiac arrhythmia), who could begin a rehab assignment next week and may rejoin the Dodgers before the end of the month. Third baseman Casey Blake was given the day off Sunday, part of manager Don Mattingly’s plan to keep the veteran healthy for the rest of the season. Blake, who has an arthritic condition in his neck, is hitting .258 with four home runs. Shortstop Justin Sellers became the seventh Dodger this season to collect his first major league hit when he singled on Saturday.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (70-51): Rickie Weeks (ankle) took grounders Sunday for the first time since landing on the disabled list on July 27, and he appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a severely sprained left ankle. Originally expected to be out 4-6 weeks, he could return before the end of August. Starting pitcher Chris Narveson played catch on Saturday with a bandage over his lacerated thumb, but he’s doubtful to return from the disabled list on Aug. 22. Marco Estrada started in place of Narveson on Saturday and allowed one hit over five shutout innings against the Pirates. Carlos Gomez is recovering well from his clavicle surgery, and there’s a chance he could return late in the season. Craig Counsell was given a rare start at second base Sunday on his bobblehead day. Counsell, who went to high school in Milwaukee, is batting just .151 after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Sunday, but the fans at Miller Park still gave him a standing ovation.

FINAL PITCH: Matt Kemp, who hit his 28th home run on Sunday, is just two away from becoming the second Dodger to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season.