Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 13, 2013 ) Milwaukee 0, St. Louis 8

The St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff has been about as stingy as possible in recent days. The host Cardinals and their stellar staff are aiming for a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. St. Louis has posted three consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1988 and has not allowed a run since the fourth inning Tuesday against Cincinnati – a span of 32 frames. Jaime Garcia will try to keep the run going in the series finale.

Milwaukee just hopes to find something positive after losing for the eighth time in 10 games on Saturday. The Brewers are averaging 3.2 runs and have not scored since a 6-3 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday. Even with shortstop Jean Segura hitting .406, Milwaukee has struggled to generate consistent offense. Ryan Braun has struck out three times in each of the past two games.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FSWI (Milwaukee), FSMW (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (1-0, 2.92).

Estrada struggled through his first start against Colorado but fared much better in beating the Cubs on Monday. The 29-year-old allowed two earned runs on five hits in seven strong innings while striking out six for his first victory. He is 0-3 with a 4.66 ERA in seven career appearances -two starts - against the Cardinals.

Garcia struck out 10 Cincinnati hitters in 6 2/3 innings Monday but allowed three earned runs on six hits while not factoring in the decision. The left-hander won his first start of the season against Arizona on April 2. Garcia, a 13-game winner in 2010 and 2011, split two decisions against the Brewers in 2012 and owns a career 2.14 ERA in April.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals hit the road Monday for a three-city, 10-game road trip. St. Louis travels to Pittsburgh for three, Philadelphia for four and Washington for three.

2. Milwaukee hopes to find better times at home, starting a six-game homestand Tuesday against the Giants and the Cubs.

3. Milwaukee 3B Alex Gonzalez did not play Saturday after being hit on the left hand with a pitch in Friday’s loss.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Brewers 1