That means a sweep by St. Louis pulls then even with Milwaukee in the division standings, while a sweep by Milwaukee gives them plenty of breathing room as they try to lock down first place.

The Brewers and Cardinals both carry four-game winning streaks into Tuesday's series opener, with Milwaukee 9-1 in its past 10 games and St. Louis having won seven of its past 10 contests. Those kind of results have allowed the Brewers and Cardinals to pull away from the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central standings.

Shaun Marcum (10-3, 3.58 ERA) is the probable starter for the Brewers on Tuesday night, and he was knocked around by the Cardinals in his last start on August 2 (six runs on seven hits over six innings of work in a no-decision).

Righthander Marcum had won his previous three starts, but Milwaukee is only 4-6 in his last 10 trips to the mound.

Edwin Jackson (8-8, 4.11 ERA) is slated to get the ball for the Cardinals on Tuesday, and he's coming off an ugly outing in Milwaukee on August 3 in which he allowed 10 runs (eight earned) on 14 hits over seven innings of work in a loss.

Jackson had also won his previous three starts before taking on the division rival last week. In three career starts against Milwaukee he's 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA.

On the World Series odds board at the Bodog Sportsbook the Brewers are now at 14/1, with the Cardinals farther back at 25/1. Milwaukee is also at 6/1 on the MLB futures to win the NL Pennant, with the Cardinals at 12/1.

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