St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview
Miller Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2013 ) St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 6
The St. Louis Cardinals attempt to capture their third straight series when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers for the finale of a three-game set Wednesday afternoon. After rallying to win the opener, St. Louis grabbed a three-run lead Tuesday before allowing six unanswered runs en route to a 6-3 loss. The defeat was the Cardinals' first in six contests at Milwaukee this year and third in 12 overall meetings this season.
St. Louis fell two games behind the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central with the loss. The club, however, remained 1 1/2 games ahead of the division-rival Cincinnati Reds for the top wild card spot. The Brewers, who are battling the Chicago Cubs to stay out of the basement in the Central, are 3-3 on their seven-game homestand.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (7-8, 4.35 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Tom Gorzelanny (3-4, 2.95)
Westbrook is in danger of losing his spot in the rotation, as he is 0-4 with a 10.13 ERA over his last four starts. The 35-year-old was tagged for seven runs - six earned - in 6 2/3 innings by the Cubs in Chicago on Friday. Westbrook improved to 3-4 lifetime against Milwaukee on May 2, when he limited the Brewers to one run over six frames.
Gorzelanny escaped with a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday after surrendering five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old has won his last two decisions after losing four straight, including one in relief. Gorzelanny has not fared well versus St. Louis in his career, going 2-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 15 games - including nine starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong is 5-for-10 over the first two games of the series after going hitless in his first eight major-league at-bats.
2. Milwaukee 1B Sean Halton registered his first career three-RBI performance Tuesday. The rookie drove in two runs in his first 22 major-league contests.
3. Brewers CF Carlos Gomez has missed five straight games with a sprained right knee.
PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Cardinals 3