Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2013 ) Milwaukee 1, St. Louis 5
If the St. Louis Cardinals hold on to win the National League Central, their dominance over the Milwaukee Brewers will be a big reason. The Cardinals have won 12 of 15 meetings this season, and they'll try to add to that total and complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Brewers on Thursday. St. Louis, which has won five straight overall, owns a one-game division lead over Pittsburgh.
The Cardinals already have clinched their fifth straight series win at home, where they are 6-2 against Milwaukee. The Brewers are trying to stay out of the division cellar, as they're one-half game ahead of the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee has lost the first two games of the series despite having its starters taking no-hitters into the sixth inning, and it hopes for more of the same from rookie Tyler Thornburg, who has gone six innings and allowed two or fewer runs in each of his four starts this season.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Tyler Thornburg (1-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (8-3, 2.74)
Thornburg has pitched out of the bullpen for most of his time in the majors, but his return to the rotation on Sept. 2 against Pittsburgh went well. The 24-year-old allowed two runs on six hits over six innings but was a tough-luck loser in a 5-2 defeat. Thornburg hasn't faced the Cardinals this year, but he did in 2012, allowing two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 frames in a no-decision.
Kelly has been the savior of the Cardinals' staff, going 8-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts since joining the rotation in July. He hasn't lost since June 5 and has allowed fewer than two runs in eight of his last 10 outings. The 25-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in six career games (three starts) against Milwaukee and has yielded four runs in three frames over three relief appearances versus the Brewers this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis C Yadier Molina and brother Bengie, the Cardinals' assistant hitting coach, missed Wednesday's game because of what manager Mike Matheny described as a "family personal matter." It was unclear when the Molinas would rejoin the club.
2. Brewers RF Norichika Aoki, who had two of Milwaukee's six hits Wednesday, is 5-for-9 with two doubles versus Kelly.
3. Milwaukee LF Khris Davis has missed five straight games with a sore left wrist but was able to hit in the cage Wednesday and might be able to play Thursday.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Brewers 2