St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2013 ) Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 3

The Milwaukee Brewers look to continue their strong play at home when they host the National League Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. The Brewers had won eight straight at Miller Park before their bullpen imploded in a 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Milwaukee sits 1 1/2 games behind the Cardinals, who posted a pair of shutouts in winning two of three against the Brewers last month.

St. Louis is playing its third consecutive series against a division rival, having taken two of three from Cincinnati after losing two of three to Pittsburgh. The Cardinals managed to scratch out four runs in the series finale against the Reds, but have scored only seven times in the past four games. St. Louis has received at least seven innings from its starters in the past three games. The Cardinals hope to continue that trend when they send Jake Westbrook to the mound Thursday to oppose Wily Peralta.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (1-1, 0.98 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (2-1, 5.02)

Westbrook has only one win despite not allowing an earned run in three of his four starts. In fact, the lone victory came on a complete-game shutout. Westbrook will make his third attempt for his 100th career victory after coming up empty last time out despite blanking Pittsburgh on six hits over six innings. He has made eight career starts against Milwaukee, logging a 2-4 record and 3.06 ERA. Ryan Braun is 10-for-19 with a homer against Westbrook.

Peralta bounced back from his worst outing by winning his last two starts. He went six innings last time out against the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving up three runs on six hits, and turned in his best performance in the previous start by limiting the Chicago Cubs to two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. All three of the home runs he has surrendered have come at Miller Park. Peralta has never faced the Cardinals.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis had thrown 25 scoreless innings against Milwaukee last month before Braun homered to spark a comeback in the series finale.

2. Brewers CF Carlos Gomez has six multiple-hit games and three homers during an eight-game hitting streak that has lifted his batting average from .295 to .367.

3. Cardinals RF Carlos Beltran has six homers in his last 88 at-bats against Milwaukee.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3