Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2018 ) Milwaukee 12, St. Louis 4
The surging Milwaukee Brewers are within a half-game of the National League Central lead, and they could be atop the standings if they can finish a three-game sweep of the host St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Milwaukee trails the Chicago Cubs by the narrowest of margins after a 12-4 win Tuesday that dropped the Cardinals a half-game behind Colorado for the second NL wild card.
Christian Yelich continued his MVP bid with a career-high six RBIs, including a three-run blast, in Tuesday’s victory - Milwaukee’s fifth in six games. The Brewers clinched the season series and home-field advantage should the two meet in the wild card game. The Cardinals have lost two straight following a string of six wins in seven games, and their remaining schedule doesn’t do them any favors. After the finale with the Brewers, St. Louis heads to Wrigley Field for three against the Cubs to close the regular season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (14-8, 3.61 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Gant (7-6, 3.53)
Chacin is winless in four starts this month, and he hasn’t pitched past the fifth inning in any of them. The 30-year-old allowed three runs over four innings in a no-decision at Pittsburgh last time out, surrendering a pair of home runs. Chacin is 1-7 with a 6.10 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against the Cardinals, who have tagged him for 17 runs (14 earned) in 20 2/3 innings across four meetings this season.
Gant has struggled with his command recently, issuing 21 walks in 30 2/3 innings across his last six starts. The 26-year-old lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his last start, allowing one run, four hits, and three walks in a no-decision against San Francisco. Gant is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in four games (two starts) against the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yelich has reached base in 12 straight games against St. Louis and is 15-for-32 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak overall.
2. St. Louis 1B-OF Jose Martinez has recorded three consecutive multi-hit games, one off his career high.
3. Milwaukee has hit three or more home runs 27 times this season, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most in the NL.
PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Cardinals 4