Three nights in August

Cubs (66-63) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (65-65) at Wrigley Field

If the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers were a couple of NBA teams, the Cubs might be in trouble in the game of individual, position-by-position matchups.

The Brewers have gotten some incredible years from several of their players this year, when they held first place for 125 days.

But as the two teams get set for a big three-game series that begins tonight, the teams are going in different directions. The Cubs have taken first place away from the Brewers, and the way things are going, the Brewers may fall even lower in the National League Central standings. So these three nights in August could be make or break for the Brew Crew.

Granted, these two teams aren't the fabled Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers of yore, but still, it's been a fun season in Milwaukee and an interesting one in Chicago.

Just for fun, let's see how the two teams match up on the court, er, the diamond:

First base

Derrek Lee vs. Prince Fielder: It's good to be the king, but it's been better to be the Prince. Fielder is a genuine MVP candidate. Lee isn't have a bad year. He's just not having a Derrek Lee-type year. Fielder is on pace to hit 49 homers, which would set a franchise record. Lee has become a singles and doubles hitter.

•Key stat: Fielder's OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .980 ranked sixth in the NL entering Monday. Lee's OPS is still good at .899, but it's fueled by doubles.

•Edge: Brewers

Second base

Mark DeRosa and Mike Fontenot vs. Rickie Weeks: DeRosa has been a godsend to the Cubs. If he's not their most valuable player, he's their most versatile player, having performed well all over the infield and outfield. Weeks has done well since his Aug. 10 recall from the minors, where he was sent for a wakeup call.

•Key stat: DeRosa has an OBP of .365 to Weeks' .349

•Edge: Cubs

Third base

Aramis Ramirez vs. Ryan Braun: Braun is the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors in the NL. He was the fastest to 20 home runs since Albert Pujols, and if his career remains on a similar arc, the Brewers have a superstar for years to come. Ramirez is a Gold Glove candidate at third base, but he hasn't homered since Aug. 15.

•Key stat: Braun has 25 homers in 82 games; Ramirez has 18 in 101.

•Edge: Brewers

Shortstop

Ryan Theriot vs. J.J. Hardy: Hardy's numbers (23 HR, 72 RBI) are impressive, especially for a shortstop, but it's hard to imagine where the Cubs would be without Theriot, arguably their MVP.

•Key stat: Theriot's .351 OBP makes him a viable leadoff candidate, even when Alfonso Soriano returns tonight.

•Edge: Even

Outfield

Alfonso Soriano, Cliff Floyd, Jacque Jones, Matt Murton and Craig Monroe vs. Geoff Jenkins, Bill Hall, Corey Hart, Gabe Gross and Kevin Mench: Hall has had a tough time duplicating his breakout season in Milwaukee last year while Hart is looking to join the 20-homer/20-steal club. The Cubs could use a few homers from their outfielders. Soriano's return could provide the spark the Cubs desperately need for their offense.

•Key stat: The Milwaukee quintet has combined for 62 homers to the Cubs' 47.

•Edge: Brewers

Catcher

Jason Kendall and Henry Blanco vs. Johnny Estrada and Damian Miller: Kendall has erased a lot of doubts with his .298 average, .392 OBP and overall good play for the Cubs. Estrada gets the bulk of the playing time, and he provides decent offense.

•Key stat: Kendall is 1-for-36 throwing out runners, so the Brewers may run.

•Edge: Even

Rotation

The Cubs will run Rich Hill, Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly to the mound, and that's better than anything the Brewers can offer. Jeff Suppan starts for the Brewers tonight, and Milwaukee may get Ben Sheets back from the DL on Wednesday.

•Key stat: Hill, Zambrano and Lilly rank 7-8-9 in batting-average-against in the NL.

•Edge: Cubs

Bullpen

The Cubs' relief corps has been stellar of late, producing on ERA of 1.32 (4 earned runs in 27½ innings pitched) over the last 10 games. Carlos Marmol has become one of the most effective relievers in the game. The Brewers bullpen was shaky over the weekend in San Francisco.

•Key stat: The Brewers Francisco Cordero is 37-for-43 in save opportunities, which have become few and far between.

•Edge: Cubs

Manager

Lou Piniella vs. Ned Yost: Both managers were frustrated by their teams' play over the weekend, with the Brewers' Yost cutting short his postgame news conference Sunday. Piniella talked but was in no mood to do so. Yost is on the hot seat while Piniella gets much of the credit for the Cubs' winning record.

•Edge: Cubs

Bruce Miles' prediction: A Cubs sweep.