Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2011 ) Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 1

THE STORY: The first-place Brewers, who have put their road woes behind them, go for the sweep of second-place St. Louis on Thursday at Busch Stadium. Milwaukee is 5-0 on this road trip and 8-3 against the Cardinals this season after Wednesday’s 5-1 win, which extended the Brewers’ lead to five games. Overall, the red-hot Brewers have won 13 of 14.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS-M, FSN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Chris Carpenter (7-8, 3.75 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (13-7, 3.56 ERA) –

Carpenter is 4-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 13 career starts against the Brewers, and he was touched for five runs on five innings at Miller Park Aug. 1. Ryan Braun is 4-for-18 (.222) with one homer and two RBIs against Carpenter, while Prince Fielder is 6-for-19 (.316) with two homers, three RBIs and four walks.

Gallardo has been brilliant over his last four starts, allowing a total of four earned runs. On May 7 he blanked St. Louis on one hit over eight innings, striking out six, but lifetime he’s 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA against the Cards.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (62-55): St. Louis is back to 11 pitchers after the team placed rookie reliever Lance Lynn on the DL with a left oblique strain and removed outfielder Allen Craig from the DL. Lynn could be done for the season. Catcher Yadier Molina, returning from his five-game suspension, went 1-for-4 in Wednesday’s loss. Albert Pujols is 0-for-8 with a sacrifice fly in the series and just 5-for-42 (.119) with four RBIs against the Brewers this season. Left fielder Matt Holliday missed Wednesday’s game with a minor lower back injury.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (67-50): Jerry Hairston Jr. got his second start since being acquired July 30 and went 1-for-4. The Brewers have clinched their fifth road series of the season. A freak clubhouse accident will cause lefty Chris Narveson to miss his scheduled home start Friday against Pittsburgh. He was trying to fix laces on his glove with a pair of scissors when his hand slipped, slicing the tip of his left thumb. His replacement has not been announced.

FINAL PITCH: Brewers leadoff man Corey Hart has a 10-game hitting streak.