Chicago @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Milwaukee 4

With a nine-game losing streak at Miller Park behind them, the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon have a chance to do something they haven't achieved since 2010 - win a road series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs will send Matt Garza to the mound against rookie Wily Peralta when the teams square off for the rubber match of the three-game series. Chicago held on for a 5-4 win Wednesday to pull even with Milwaukee for fourth place in the National League Central as the rivals battle to stay out of the division cellar.

The win was only the third for the Cubs in the last 22 meetings in Milwaukee and the second in seven overall meetings this season. Chicago improved to 10-25 against the NL Central, the worst division record in the majors. The Brewers have belted 10 home runs in their past seven games but are just 4-3 during that stretch.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (2-1, 4.25 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (5-8, 5.59)

Garza has strung together his two best outings of the season, following up his seven innings of shutout ball against the New York Mets with a dominant performance to beat Houston his last time out. He held the Astros to one run on four hits over eight innings with a season-high eight strikeouts. Garza is 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in six starts against the Brewers but has not faced them this season.

Peralta seemingly was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation before turning in his best outing of the year to beat Atlanta in his last start. He shut out the Braves for seven innings, allowing two hits and four walks for his first win since June 1. Peralta has faced the Cubs twice this year, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks is 16-for-36 during a 10-game hitting streak. Weeks is 2-for-17 with eight strikeouts against Garza.

2. OF Brian Bogusevic went 2-for-4 and stole a base in his Cubs debut Wednesday. Bogusevic is expected to play left field while Alfonso Soriano acts as the designated hitter when the Cubs travel to Seattle and Oakland starting Friday.

3. Milwaukee optioned 2B Scooter Gennett to Triple-A Nashville after Wednesday's game and purchased the contract of OF/1B Sean Halton.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Brewers 3