Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2018 ) Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 7

Two rivals heading in different directions meet Sunday as the surging St. Louis Cardinals aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. St. Louis took over sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the National League with Saturday’s 7-2 victory while Milwaukee lost for the eighth time in its last 11 games and fell out of wild card position for the first time since early in the season.

Marcell Ozuna homered and Paul DeJong drove in three runs on Saturday as the Cardinals won for the 10th time in their last 11 games and improved to 21-10 since interim manager Mike Shildt replaced Mike Matheny on July 15. St. Louis moved four games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and received another spark from rookie outfielder Harrison Bader, who drove in two runs and is 7-for-14 during his four-game hitting streak. Milwaukee fell one-half game behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot despite homers from Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw, who snapped a 1-for-16 skid with his solo blast in the second inning. Ryan Braun, who is 19-for-52 with four homers and 12 RBIs over his last 18 games, was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game due to rib cage tightness but hopes to be available Sunday.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (12-4, 3.72 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Gant (5-4, 3.74)

Chacin improved to 6-1 in his past eight starts with a stellar outing last Tuesday, when he struck out a season-high 10 in seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers are 18-8 in games started by the 30-year-old native of Venezuela, who signed with the team as a free agent last December. Chacin is 0-7 with a 6.90 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against St. Louis, including 0-2 with a 5.65 mark in three outings at Busch Stadium.

Gant homered for his first major league hit and allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in last Tuesday’s 6-4 victory over Washington. The 26-year-old began the month with a rough outing versus Pittsburgh but has given up a total of two runs over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts. Yelich is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts against Gant, who is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three career games (one start) against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong exited Saturday’s contest with a right elbow contusion and is listed as day-to-day.

2. Milwaukee C Manny Pina has missed the last two games due to a sore left shoulder but could be available on Sunday.

3. St. Louis OF Jose Martinez was scratched from the starting lineup Saturday due to right hip tightness but appeared as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Cardinals 3