St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2011 ) St. Louis 2, Milwaukee 1

THE STORY: The desperate Cardinals, coming off just their second win in Miller Park this season, try to further tighten the NL Central race when they resume their three-game series with the Brewers on Wednesday. St. Louis’ 2-1 win in the series opener cut Milwaukee’s lead to 9 1/2 games. It was just the Brewers’ third loss in 20 home games since the All-Star break. The Cardinals probably need to sweep their five remaining games with the Brewers – the teams also play Sept. 5-7 in St. Louis – to have any chance of denying Milwaukee its first division title since 1982.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN, FS-M

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Randy Wolf (11-8, 3.37 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (10-7, 4.75 ERA)

Wolf has won five straight decisions, including a 5-1 victory in St. Louis on Aug. 10 in which he allowed one run over eight innings. Current Cardinals are hitting .229 against him. In 17 career starts against the Cards, he’s 7-7 with a 3.80 ERA.

Westbrook was wild in his last start, walking five batters in six innings against the Pirates. He also walked five Brewers when he opposed Wolf on Aug. 10 but still went eight innings, allowing three runs. Westbrook is 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA against Milwaukee this year. Overall, batters are hitting .284 against him.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (81-55): Right fielder Corey Hart has a 12-game hitting streak and is 15-for-30 over his last eight games. Center fielder Nyjer Morgan broke out of a 1-for-13 skid Tuesday with three hits, including an RBI double, to raise his average to .311. Since 2007, Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun have combined to hit 344 homers, most of any duo in baseball. But they went 0-for-7 in Tuesday’s loss, though Fielder drew a walk.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (71-64): Right fielder Lance Berkman batted second for the first time this season on Tuesday, going 0-for-4. He may not be in the lineup Wednesday as he’s a horrific 3-for-30 against Wolf. The Rangers are seriously interested in trading for Berkman due to Nelson Cruz’s injury. However, Berkman told GM John Mozeliak that he would not consider returning to the Cards as a free agent this winter if he is traded now. Berkman is tied for fourth in the NL with 30 homers.

FINAL PITCH: The Brewers lead the season series 8-4.