St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) St. Louis 8, Milwaukee 3

THE STORY: It’s starting to get interesting in the NL Central. The visiting Cardinals go for a three-game sweep of first-place Milwaukee on Thursday knowing a victory would cut their deficit to 7 1/2 games. St. Louis, which has won five of six, handed the Brewers back-to-back home losses for only the second time this season by winning 8-3 Wednesday. Realistically, the Cards must win Thursday and sweep the Brewers next week in St. Louis to have a real shot at overtaking them.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN, FS-M

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (15-8, 3.37 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Brandon Dickson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Gallardo is 1-5 with a 4.91 ERA in nine career starts against St. Louis. He has been dominant at home this season, going 9-1 with a 2.51 ERA. Albert Pujols is 9-for-22 (.409) with two homers and six RBIs against Gallardo.

Dickson was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to give struggling lefty Jaime Garcia two extra days’ rest. In two relief appearances in July, Dickson tossed four scoreless innings against the Reds and Rays, allowing two hits and two walks.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (81-56): Milwaukee finished August 21-7, tying the franchise record for wins in any month. Right fielder Corey Hart is hitting .356 (21 for 53) during his 13-game hitting streak. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt snapped out of an 0-for-22 skid with two hits Wednesday, including his third triple. After the game, the Brewers announced three callups - including center fielder Carlos Gomez, who finished a minor-league rehab assignment.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (72-64): Edwin Jackson will start on regular rest Sunday, bumping Kyle Lohse to next Tuesday against the Brewers in St. Louis. The team is concerned about Lohse’s mounting innings count; he’s thrown 162 innings after dealing with injury problems the past two years. Lohse has a 5.92 ERA in August, the fifth straight month his ERA has risen. He’ll have nine days between starts.

FINAL PITCH: Pujols leads the NL with 32 homers after his mammoth blast to dead center in Wednesday’s win. He's one ahead of Matt Kemp and Mike Stanton.