Cardinals Brewers Showdown Tonight

Sep 16, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (57) celebrates after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Brewers defeated the Cardinals 3-2 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals will play an important game tonight with plenty of impact for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  A Brewers win would be their sixth in seven games and would do a world of good for the Pirates hunt for an NL Central title.  A Cardinals win would put a bit of space between the Brewers and Bucs.  It’s torture….the best torture a baseball fan can endure in September.

The Bucs will need to get at least a half game up on the Cardinals as the Cards hold the tie breaker scenarios. Of course, the Pirates will need to take care of business against the Red Sox, but if the Brewers can do the unthinkable and grab another win–this time against Adam Wainwright–the NL Central looks like it will be a photo finish.

The Crew will send Mike Fiers to the mound.  One game removed from beaning Giancarlo Stanton.

The Brewers Mike Fiers beaned Giancarlo Stanton in his last start.

The 29 year old Fiers is making his eighth start and 12th appearance of the season.  Fiers has been dominant since his return to the big leagues.  In his last start he only went five innings allowing three hits and no runs against the Marlins while striking out eight.  It’s pretty amazing what Fiers has done since he got the call from AAA Nashville on August 9th—in five starts he was 4-1 with an 1.80 ERA in August.

Fiers is 2-0 against the Cardinals in five games, including three starts giving up three runs in 20.2 innings pitched against the suddenly Cardinals-Light offense.  On September 5, he went 6.2 innings and gave up two earned runs as the Brewers won 6-2.

Meanwhile the Brew Crew will have to face Adam Wainwright who has been a stud against them this season.  Wainwright has bounced back in his recent outings including his last time against the Brewers when he needed only 100 pitches on September 7 to fire a complete game win.  

So who the hell do you want to win this game between the Cardinals Brewers?  I am taking Milwaukee.

Standings Update:

The Crew is now 79-72 but on August 25, the Brewers had a 1 1/2-game edge in the Nl Central.  The team then lost 13 of 14 before its current streak.