Milwaukee @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Milwaukee 3

THE STORY: After a lackluster stretch, the Milwaukee Brewers seemed to have rediscovered their groove. The Brewers trimmed their magic number to clinch the National League Central to four when they completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The offense, which had been in shutdown mode over the previous eight games, exploded for 24 runs in the sweep as Ryan Braun made his way up the franchise and NL leaderboards in several categories. The Chicago Cubs fought hard over the weekend in taking two of three from the Houston Astros. The Brewers will be looking to take advantage of the lowly Cubs when they open a three-game set at Wrigley Field on Monday night.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSWI (Milwaukee), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Chris Narveson (10-7, 4.40 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Casey Coleman (2-8, 7.08 ERA).

Narveson is likely the odd man out of the rotation when the playoffs roll around but has gotten his feet wet lately in the bullpen. The veteran swingman pitched two hitless innings of relief Wednesday against Colorado. He was lit up in his last start, allowing six runs in 5 2/3 innings to absorb a loss against Philadelphia. Narveson has never lost to Chicago, going 6-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 12 games - five starts. Coleman is pitching his way out of a 2012 rotation spot with his work of late. The 24-year-old sophomore allowed six runs in just 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds last week and has posted a 6.82 ERA over his last six turns. Coleman pitched well but still fell to Milwaukee on Aug. 28, allowing three runs in seven innings.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (90-63): Milwaukee stumbled through an eight-game stretch in which it averaged just two runs while going 2-6. But the Cincinnati Reds proved to be the cure for the offense’s ills, as the Brewers went off for 10 home runs in the three-game sweep. Braun joined the 30/30 club with a pair of homers in Friday’s tilt and spent the rest of the weekend working his way into first place in the NL batting race. His 8-for-13 weekend lifted his average to .336, just ahead of Jose Reyes’ .331. In addition to closing in on the division title, Milwaukee now leads the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-65) by two games for second place in the NL and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

ABOUT THE CUBS (67-86): Chicago thought it had a three-game sweep over the Houston Astros on Sunday when Carlos Pena’s opposite-field drive through the rain was initially ruled a two-run homer, giving the Cubs a 4-3 edge. But replay revealed the hit to be a double, wiping two runs off the board and leading to manager Mike Quade’s ejection in a 3-2 setback. At least Chicago has shown no quit despite its record. The Cubs battled for a pair of one-run wins in the first two games with the Astros and are continuing to run veterans like Pena and Aramis Ramirez out in the regular lineup.

FINAL PITCH: Rickie Weeks is slowly working his way back into everyday duty for Milwaukee. The All-Star second baseman has been dealing with soreness in his left ankle and has not played a full nine innings in the field since being activated off the disabled list Sept. 8. Weeks went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs on Sunday before being replaced on defense by Jerry Hairston Jr.