You do remember the Brewers, right? The team in Wisconsin, the one that was good in 2011, where this guy played until he got suspended for the season … (That gif will never get old.)

Since it’s been three months since the Cardinals played the Brewers, you might have forgotten about them. Did you know they’re not in last place in the National League Central right now? Learn more about that and catch up with the Brewers in the latest issue of The Bird’s Eye View from the United Cardinal Bloggers — I happened to write this one. If you don’t yet subscribe, click here. You’ll get a preview e-newsletter before each Cardinals series.

St. Louis Cardinals (71-52) at Milwaukee Brewers (54-70)
Aug. 19-21, 2013
Miller Park, Milwaukee


If you haven’t thought about the Brewers in a while, that’s not a surprise. The Cardinals last played them exactly three months ago, on May 19, and since then, the most notable thing they’ve done is hang out in last place in the National League Central a majority of the time. Oh, and had Ryan Braun suspended for the season – which may have caught your attention (especially since there was more news about him yesterday). They also won two out of three from the Reds over the weekend to keep Cincinnati a game behind the Cards in the standings.


How We Got Here
As mentioned, it’s been a while since these two teams played each other but they’ve met for three series so far in 2013.

The Cardinals have won eight of the 10 games they’ve played, starting with back-to-back shutout victories April 12-13 in games started by Shelby Miller and Adam Wainwright at Busch Stadium. They swept a four-game series in their only trip to Milwaukee so far this season, May 2-5, and the May 3 game was chronicled for this year’s progressive game blog by the United Cardinal Bloggers. The Cardinals also took two of three in the May 17-19 series in St. Louis. To prove how long ago that was, the winning pitchers were Jaime Garcia and John Gast. (Hope you’re both recovering well, Jaime and John!)

Entering tonight’s game, the Cardinals have taken back-to-back series for the first time since winning against the Padres and Phillies right after the All-Star break. They beat the Cubs in two straight games and are looking to win three games in a row for the first time since sweeping Philadelphia July 23-25. They are in second place in the NL Central, now only one game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Go Padres, the latest Not-Pirates!)

The Brewers have been battling the Cubs to get out of the Central’s basement for the past week and currently are in fourth place, 1 1/2 games ahead of Chicago. They’re 18 1/2 back in the Central and only 16 back in the wild card race, in case you were wondering. In August, the Brewers are 8-8 and have won series against the Giants, Mariners and Reds; split a two-game series with the Rangers; and lost two of three to the Nationals.


The Starters
Monday, Aug. 19
Shelby Miller (11-8, 2.97 ERA) vs. Marco Estrada (5-4, 4.71 ERA)
7:10 p.m. Central Time on Fox Sports Midwest and Fox Sports Wisconsin

Tuesday, Aug. 20
Lance Lynn (13-6, 3.89 ERA) vs. Kyle Lohse (8-8, 3.17 ERA)
7:10 p.m. Central Time on Fox Sports Midwest and Fox Sports Wisconsin

Wednesday, Aug. 21
Jake Westbrook (7-8, 4.35 ERA) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (3-4, 2.95 ERA)
1:10 p.m. Central Time on Fox Sports Midwest only


The Numbers
Cardinals team hitting: .270/.333/.404
Cardinals team ERA: 3.48

Brewers team hitting: .252/.307/.401
Brewers team ERA: 3.88

Cardinals team leaders
Batting average: Yadier Molina, .328
On-base percentage: Matt Carpenter, .383
Slugging percentage: Carlos Beltran, .507
OPS: Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina, .859 each
Home runs: Carlos Beltran, 20
RBI: Allen Craig, 88
WAR – batting: Matt Carpenter, 5.0
Stolen bases: Matt Holliday, 6
Wins: Adam Wainwright, 14
ERA – Reliever: Sam Freeman, 0.00. Starter: Adam Wainwright, 2.66
Strikeouts: Adam Wainwright, 173
Saves: Edward Mujica, 31
WAR – pitching: Adam Wainwright, 5.3

Brewers team leaders
Batting average: Jean Segura, .310
On-base percentage: Jean Segura, .344
Slugging percentage: Carlos Gomez, .519
OPS: Carlos Gomez, .858
Home runs: Carlos Gomez, 18
RBI: Jonathan Lucroy, 64
WAR – batting: Carlos Gomez, 6.5
Stolen bases: Jean Segura, 36
Wins: Yovani Gallardo, 9
ERA – Reliever: Rob Wooten, 0.75. Starter: Kyle Lohse: 3.17.
Strikeouts: Yovani Gallardo, 104
Saves: Jim Henderson, 18
WAR – pitching: Kyle Lohse, 2.6


Who’s Hot and Who’s Not (last seven games)
Cardinals
Hot: Matt Carpenter, .462
Jon Jay, .360
Matt Holliday, .318

Not: David Freese, .063
Pete Kozma, .053
Rob Johnson, .000

Brewers
Hot: Scooter Gennett, .444
Khris Davis, .417
Martin Maldonado, .333
Jean Segura .333

Not: Jeff Bianchi, .182
Aramis Ramirez, .063
Logan Schafer, .053


Your Author
I am Christine Coleman of Aaron Miles’ Fastball, and I did see Aaron Miles pitch in person once. You can find me on Twitter at ccoleman802 and AMilesFastball.