Coming off handing the Dodgers their first sweep of the season, with a record fifteen games over .500 and perched atop the lead of the NL Central, the Brewers find themselves where nobody thought they'd be with 37 games to go in the season. Fangraphs has given the Brewers an 83% chance to make the playoffs and it seems to be getting greater with each passing game. The Pirates and Reds are each 2-8 in their last 10 games and are reeling just trying to keep up as the Brewers have hit somewhat of a hot streak of late. The Cardinals have had struggles of their own with their once sure-handed bullpen blowing games day in and day out. Much of the Cardinals and Pirates struggles can be attributed to key injuries as Molina and McCutchen have both missed significant time. McCutchen is expected to return tonight but Molina won't be back till the later part of September. The key to the Brewers late success has been the starting pitching, much like the rest of the season. In the last 26 games starters have 22 quality starts and a 2.46 ERA. This includes Mike Fiers' success since stepping into the rotation. Along with ringing up 14 Cubs in his last start he has posted a 1.29 ERA only allowing 3 earned runs in his two starts. The Crew will continue to fight for the top playoff spot which has new meaning since the addition of the second wild card seed which forces a one-game playoff. As the top seed the Brewers would get to play the winner of this game who most likely will burn their ace in order to keep their season alive. The Brewers begin the last of their interleague play tonight against the Blue Jays in which Mike Fiers will toe the rubber.
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