St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2011 ) St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 4
THE STORY: First place in the NL Central is on the line when Milwaukee hosts St. Louis in a three-game series starting Monday. The Brewers have built a 2 ½-game lead over the Cardinals by sweeping the lowly Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros in the past two series. Milwaukee is 11 games over .500 for the first time in more than years, and an incredible 39-14 at Miller Park. St. Louis hopes to get a lift from newly acquired shortstop Rafael Furcal, who’s expected to be in the starting lineup Monday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN, FS-M
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zack Greinke (8-4, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Chris Carpenter (6-7, 3.68 ERA).
Greinke has put together four strong starts in a row and recorded a 2.27 ERA in July. He has struck out seven or more in five straight starts. However, current Cardinals are hitting .271 against him.
Carpenter posted a 2.68 ERA in July and is coming off an eight-strikeout performance against Houston. St. Louis has won six of his last seven starts. In 12 career starts against the Brewers, Carpenter is 4-5 with a 5.09 ERA.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (60-49): Closer John Axford converted his team-record 28th straight save on Sunday with a perfect ninth, making him 31 of 33 on save chances this season. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games after driving in two runs Sunday. With that 5-4 win over Houston, the Brewers improved to 24-14 in one-run games.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (57-51): Furcal, acquired in a deadline deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers, pinch-hit on Sunday and likely will be St. Louis’ regular shortstop the rest of the season. The team sent shortstop Tyler Greene back to Triple-A Memphis, and plans to use Ryan Theriot at second base periodically. Right fielder Lance Berkman returned Sunday from a shoulder strain that kept him out four games and promptly belted his NL-leading 28th homer. The Cards lead the NL with 517 runs scored.
FINAL PITCH: The Brewers lead the season series 4-2, having swept the Cards in a three-game home series in early June while outscoring them 17-6.