After winning a pair of road series, the Milwaukee Brewers are in position to clinch the National League Central title at home when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-game series that begins Monday night.
Right-hander Aaron Civale (6-8, 4.57 ERA) starts for Milwaukee, opposed by left-hander Ranger Suarez (12-6, 3.05).
Milwaukee’s magic number to clinch the NL Central remains at three after an 11-10 loss in 10 innings Sunday at Arizona, which scored three in the 11th after the Brewers scored twice in the top half.
Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio had his 21st homer and five RBIs, and Willy Adames drove in two runs, putting him just four RBIs short of tying Robin Yount’s franchise record by a shortstop (113).
Milwaukee (86-63) leads the division by 10 games over the Cubs (76-73), who won at Colorado 6-2 Sunday. The Brewers, who took two of three in Arizona after winning two of three at San Francisco, return home for a seven-game homestand.
“It’s been such a special year for me and the team,” Adames said in a postgame interview Saturday with Bally Sports Wisconsin. “I think we have a special group of guys, and it’s been such an amazing ride this year. We’ve had some tough moments but we find a way to overcome those moments, just put up some runs and have some fun.”
Philadelphia topped the Mets 2-1 on Sunday on J.T. Realmuto’s two-out, walk-off single in the ninth. Cristopher Sanchez allowed one run — a solo homer — in seven-plus innings, walking one and striking out seven.
“Our guys just keep moving forward,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Sunday. “They’re veterans, I mean the club is veteran-laden, and they know that it’s a long year and it’s new day tomorrow, and you just strap it back and go after them.”
Philadelphia (90-59) leads the Dodgers by two games for the best record in the NL. Milwaukee is third, two games behind Los Angeles. The top two teams get the first-round playoff byes.
Civale, acquired from Tampa Bay in early July, will be making his 12th start for Milwaukee. Civale was 2-6 with a 5.07 ERA with the Rays, but is 4-2 with a 3.84 ERA with the Brewers.
Civale is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA in his last six starts. In his last outing, he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings to get the win in a 3-2 victory at San Francisco. He has never faced the Phillies.
Suarez is 2-4 with a 5.30 ERA over his last seven starts, allowing 43 hits in 35 2/3 innings. He is 2-1 in his last four starts since coming off the injured list (lower-back soreness) on Aug. 24.
Suarez is 0-0 with 2.87 ERA in three career starts vs. Milwaukee.
–Field Level Media