MLB Game Preview - Milwaukee at St. Louis
Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:15 PM EDT

PIT
8
CHC
17
F
ATL
5
WSH
0
F
NYY
5
TOR
6
F(12)
LAD
9
NYM
2
F
BAL
6
DET
2
F
OAK
14
TEX
9
F
MIL
0
STL
10
F
HOU
4
KC
1
F
SD
8
COL
10
F
CIN
4
ARI
3
F
TB
11
LAA
4
F
CHW
9
SEA
7
F
MIA
0
SF
1
F
MIN
CLE
PPD
Hot Brewers hope to gain ground on Cardinals
Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:01 PM

The National League playoff race will intensify when the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers visit the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game series starting Friday night.

The Cardinals (82-64) lead the NL Central by four games over the Brewers and Chicago Cubs, both at 78-68 and tied for the league's second wild-card slot.

The Brewers lost outfielder Christian Yelich (broken kneecap) and second baseman Keston Hiura (hamstring muscle strain) from the heart of their batting order, but regained third baseman Mike Moustakas (bruised hand) this week.

"It's an opportunity and challenge for everybody in this clubhouse," Moustakas told reporters. "You guys see what Yeli's able to do and what he's been able to do the last couple of seasons, having another MVP-type of season. It hurts a lot to lose him, but at the end of the day, we've got to find ways to win."

The Brewers just swept the Miami Marlins in a four-game series to extend their winning streak to seven games, tying their season high.

"If the season ended today, I'd be a little happier," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters after Milwaukee won 3-2 Thursday. "Look, we've got whatever we've got left. It's not a one-game season; it's 16 left. We've got a lot of teams around us. There's teams that are still ahead of us that are within reach, and we'll keep shooting for that."

Pitcher Adrian Houser (6-5, 3.59 ERA) will start Friday's game for the Brewers. He faced the Cardinals on Aug. 21 and 27, allowing just one earned run each time as the teams split those games.

He is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in three starts against the Cardinals this season, and 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in five career games against them, including two relief appearances.

But Houser worked just 8 1/3 innings in his last two starts, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks against the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs.

The Cardinals will counter with veteran Adam Wainwright (11-9, 4.16 ERA), who is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts against the Brewers this season. He is 16-10 with a 2.51 career ERA against the Brewers in 41 appearances, including 34 starts.

In his last two starts against Milwaukee, on Aug. 21 and 26, Wainwright allowed seven runs on 14 hits and seven walks as the teams split those games.

But Wainwright has pitched brilliantly lately, winning at home against the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 2 and on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. He allowed just one run in 14 innings in those two starts.

He has also been very good at home this season, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.43 ERA in 13 starts.

"It matters to me that I'm out there performing and leading this team, when I'm out there on the mound, to a win," Wainwright told reporters. "That pumps me up. We're playing meaningful baseball right now. I'm out there contributing and helping us win those games. That means a lot to me."

The Cardinals lost two of three games to the Rockies in Colorado this week, but they have gone 24-9 since Aug. 8

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Milwaukee            
St. Louis            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Adrian Houser - NYM
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. St. Louis
Adam Wainwright - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Milwaukee

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

--%>