Philadelphia @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Philadelphia 3, Milwaukee 2

THE STORY: The prevailing thought heading into the week was that the Philadelphia Phillies were going to be tested when they faced a pair of potential playoff teams. After sweeping the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies will look to use their brooms again on Sunday when they conclude a four-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers. Charlie Manuel's club has to like its odds of doing just that when it sends Vance Worley to the mound. The red-hot rookie has won eight straight and the Phillies have emerged victorious in his last 14 outings. Philadelphia can clinch a postseason berth with a win on Sunday and a loss by the St. Louis Cardinals.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, TBS, FSWI (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vance Worley (11-1, 2.85 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (15-10, 3.71 ERA)

Worley's success has generated considerable talk in the City of Brotherly Love about whether he - and not veteran Roy Oswalt - should be the team's fourth starter in the postseason. The 23-year-old isn't publicly speaking on the matter, but he continues to silence the opposition. Worley allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out six in a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. Worley has not faced the Brewers in his brief career.

Gallardo suffered his second straight loss on Tuesday when he permitted three runs on four hits in six innings in a 4-2 loss to the Cardinals. The 25-year-old Mexican has pitched well at Miller Park this season, posting a 9-2 mark with a 3.18 ERA. Gallardo won his lone career start against the Phillies, allowing one run and striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (94-48): Philadelphia has won six in a row and 11 of 13 to reduce its magic number to seven in its pursuit of a fifth consecutive National League East title. Raul Ibanez doubled and scored on pitcher LaTroy Hawkins' error in the 10th inning as the Phillies claimed a 3-2 victory on Saturday. Ibanez has hit safely in six straight games and nine of his last 10. Hunter Pence had three hits - including a homer - but he went 0-for-3 in his previous meeting with Gallardo this season while playing with the Houston Astros. Utility infielder Wilson Valdez left Saturday's game with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who made his first appearance in a game since Aug. 21.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (85-62): Milwaukee has dropped five in a row and seen its lead in the NL Central shrink to six games over the Cardinals. All-Star second baseman Rickie Weeks played in a simulated game on Saturday afternoon and then made a pinch-hit appearance against the Phillies. Weeks, who is working his way back from a severely sprained left ankle, walked and then exited the contest for a pinch runner. Yuniesky Betancourt collected his fourth RBI of the series with a run-scoring single in the second. Betancourt is 5-for-20 in his career against Philadelphia pitching.

FINAL PITCH: Manuel smiled when he was reminded that the Phillies lead the second-place Atlanta Braves by 12 games. "I’m happy with that number,” he said. “That’s what we play for. If we could be 20 up, we would be.”