Cubs in driver's seat, but Brewers still alive
Buckle up, here we go. Final week of the season.
It's time for the Cubs and Brewers to once and for all decide their National League Central dogfight that started in early July.
"It's looked that way all along that it would come to the last week," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "But we've still got some business to take care of. We're in a good position, but there's baseball to be played and we've got to finish this off, period."
Trailing the Cubs by 3½ games, the Brewers might be down to their last gasp after a weekend that saw them lose three of four in Atlanta while the Cubs swept the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
The Brewers start a three-game series tonight at Miller Park against the Cardinals -- a series, barring a colossal Cubs collapse, they likely need to sweep in order to make this weekend even matter.
"We've got a lot of respect for Milwaukee, and we know they're not going to quit," said Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa.
Here's a look at the homestretch:
Today
While the Cubs enjoy their last off-day, the Brewers open up their three-game set with St. Louis. This game might be the chance to win for the staggering Cardinals with ace Adam Wainwright starting. Wainwright has a 2.36 ERA since the all-star break.
Dave Bush starts for Milwaukee. He is 0-3 lifetime against the Cardinals, and that includes an 8-0 loss Aug. 16 at Miller Park.
One thing the Brewers have going for them is they're an NL-best 47-27 at home.
Tuesday
The Cubs leave the heart-pounding atmosphere of Wrigley Field for the empty seats of Dolphin Stadium. At least the presence of what is expected to be thousands of Cubs fans should juice up the place.
Ted Lilly (15-7) starts for the Cubs against Dontrelle Willis (9-15, 5.32 ERA), who has had a miserable season for the Marlins.
At Miller Park, the Brewers send Jeff Suppan against Braden Looper.
Wednesday
Jason Marquis will try to bounce back from Friday's poor start for the Cubs against a Marlins starter to be determined.
The Brewers start Carlos Villanueva against the Cardinals' Joel Pineiro. Villanueva is 2-1 in 4 starts with a 1.50 ERA since being plugged into the rotation.
Thursday
Steve Trachsel makes his first Cubs start since Sept. 13 in what could be a pressure-packed situation. Trachsel is a not-so-hot 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA with the Cubs. The Marlins will throw Scott Olsen (9-15).
The Padres come to Miller Park for the first of four games with the Brewers and will start Jack Cassel against Yovani Gallardo.
The Brewers are fortunate in that Padres ace right-hander Jake Peavy is scheduled to start Wednesday at San Francisco.
These figure to be critical games for the Padres as they continue to chase first-place Arizona in the NL West while batting for the wild-card playoff berth.
Friday
The Cubs are in Cincinnati to face a Reds team that has given them fits.
Rich Hill is scheduled to get the ball for the Cubs for a start that could define his season. The Reds will counter with Bronson Arroyo.
In the second game of the series in Milwaukee, Ben Sheets is slated to start for the Brewers against Greg Maddux.
Sheets missed his second straight start Sunday because of a hamstring injury that has nagged him for almost two weeks.
Saturday
Carlos Zambrano is supposed to start for the Cubs, but that could change if the division is decided.
The Cubs could hold Zambrano out in order to start him in Game 1 of the playoffs Oct. 3.
The Reds start Aaron Harang, their Cy Young candidate who is 4-1 against the Cubs this season.
The Brewers will start Bush against Chris Young.
Sunday
It's Lilly's turn for the Cubs, but like with Zambrano, the plan could change in order to rest Lilly for the playoffs. The Reds will start 21-year-old rookie Homer Bailey.
In Milwaukee's finale, Suppan is slated to start against Brett Tomko, but there has been talk of the Padres bringing Peavy back on three days' rest if it's a game they have to win to make the playoffs.