Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2011 ) Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 1

THE STORY: The Milwaukee Brewers have matched their largest lead of the season and look to build upon it Tuesday when they visit the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. Milwaukee won Monday’s opener for its fourth straight victory to move 10 1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals in the National League Central with 20 games to play. The Brewers can move over the .600 mark with a win Tuesday. Yovani Gallardo, who traditionally struggles against the Cardinals, gets the start for Milwaukee. St. Louis racked Gallardo last Thursday for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings while beating the Brewers. The Cardinals have lost three of their last four games since sweeping a three-game series from the Brewers in Milwaukee last week.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSWI (Milwaukee), FSMW (St. Louis).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (15-9, 3.68 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (12-8, 3.72 ERA).

Gallardo dropped to 1-6 in 10 career starts against St. Louis when he lost on Thursday. He did have eight strikeouts but gave up nine hits and one walk. His career ERA against the Cardinals is 5.79, and he is 1-2 with a 6.11 ERA in three 2011 outings against St. Louis. Albert Pujols is batting .480 with four homers in 25 career at-bats against Gallardo, who has achieved a career-best victory output.

Lohse has won four of his last five decisions and has a shot at matching his career-best 15-win season of 2008. He hasn’t pitched since beating Pittsburgh for his 100th career victory on Aug. 28. Lohse gave up four runs (two earned) and six hits in five innings against the Pirates. He is just 3-8 with a 5.10 ERA in 18 appearances (16 starts) against Milwaukee. Lohse is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts against the Brewers this season. Ryan Braun is batting .333 with two homers in 27 career at-bats against Lohse.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (74-67): Pujols is batting .440 during a six-game hitting streak after getting one of St. Louis’ four hits on Monday. He is batting .295 and has averaged .312 or higher in each of his previous 10 seasons. Lance Berkman was held out of Monday’s lineup due to his 3-for-32 career mark against Brewers starter Randy Wolf. Catcher Yadier Molina went 1-for-3 after missing two games with a calf injury. Infielder Tyler Greene, catcher Tony Cruz and outfielder Adron Chambers will join the Cardinals on Tuesday. Infielder Nick Punto (oblique) will also be activated.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (85-57): Milwaukee’s magic number for clinching the NL Central is 11 after Monday’s victory. The Brewers are 19-7 in their last 26 road games. Milwaukee was 16-31 at one point this season. Braun, a leading NL Most Valuable Player candidate, homered during Monday’s victory and is three homers away from being the first Milwaukee player to produce a 30-homer, 30-steal season since Tommy Harper in 1970. Braun is batting .335 with 31 steals. Corey Hart went 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games and Yuniesky Betancourt had three hits. John Axford converted his 38th consecutive save opportunity and is 41 for 43 on the season.

FINAL PITCH: “We’re trying to do the best we can to hopefully not hand the Central division to these guys. Just fight to the end the same way we did in April and the last 140 games. It is what it is. They’re playing well. You have to give a lot of credit to those guys over there.” – Pujols following Monday’s loss to the Brewers.