Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2018 ) Milwaukee 6, St. Louis 4

The Brewers can take a huge step toward clinching a wild-card berth and remain within striking distance of winning the National League Central on Tuesday when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle contest of a three-game set. Milwaukee lowered its magic number to clinch a postseason spot to three following Monday's 6-4 victory over St. Louis.

The win stretched out Milwaukee's lead over the Cardinals - the Brewers' closest competition in the wild-card race - to three games with five left to play. The victory also allowed Milwaukee (90-67) to close within 1 1/2 games of the Central-leading Cubs as the club continues its quest to end a six-year postseason drought. The Cardinals (87-70) appeared to be on their way to closing the gap on the Brewers on in the opener after roughing up All-Star reliever Josh Hader and taking a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning, but two late RBIs from Christian Yelich and a wild pickoff throw in the eighth inning ultimately led to the end of St. Louis' three-game winning streak. The loss not only made the Cardinals' bid to overtake the Brewers this week unlikely, but it also reduced their lead over Colorado to a half-game for the final wild card.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin, Dish455 (Milwaukee), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (9-11, 4.28 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Austin Gomber (6-1, 3.63)

Gonzales remained unbeaten in three starts since arriving in a trade from Washington earlier this month, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings on his 33rd birthday. The two-time All-Star is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA as a member of the Brewers, although all three of his outings with them have come at home. Yadier Molina (8-for-23) has fared well while Matt Carpenter (2-for-19) has not versus Gonzalez, who was tagged for five runs across four frames in a loss at St. Louis on Aug. 14.

Gomber rebounded from his worst performance as a major leaguer to move to 5-1 as a member of the rotation, permitting one run while fanning five over as many innings last Tuesday against Atlanta. The Florida Atlantic product continues to struggle with his control, however, handing out 31 free passes over his first 69 1/3 big-league innings. Gomber, who did not give up a run in two-thirds of an inning in his only appearance versus Milwaukee on June 23, is allowing left-handed hitters to bat .301 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers reached the 90-win mark in the opener for only the eighth time in the franchise's 50-year history.

2. The Cardinals reached Hader for three runs - a walk sandwiched by two homers - in one inning of work Monday after entering the game with only three hits in their first 28 at-bats against him.

3. With a victory in either one of the final two games of this series, Milwaukee will win the season series for the second year in a row after failing to do in the previous six seasons.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3