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Cardinals Cut Brewers Lead in Half, National League Central Week in Review
Aug 19, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers (center) relaxes in the dugout after pitching 7 innings giving up one run to pick up the win as the Brewers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers
It was a tough week for the Brewers even though they were facing two reeling teams. The Toronto Blue Jays came into their two-game series with the Brewers with a 4-11 record in August and left with a split that included a 9-5 drubbing of the Brewers on Wednesday.
The Pirates were a more respectable 8-11 in August coming into their series in Milwaukee, but had lost 7 of their last 8 prior to the series with the Brewers. They pounded the Brewers to the tune of 18-5 in the first two games of the series before Mike Fiers shut them down in the finale to give Milwaukee a win.
The Brewers went just 2-3 on the week, and had off days on both Monday and Thursday. They saw their lead in the National League Central division shrink from three games at the start of the week to 1 ½ games by the end.
The pitching staff (and defense on Friday) conspired to give up 27 runs in the Brewers three losses on the week. 27 runs is how many they gave up in the 11 games prior to the three-game losing streak.
This week the Brewers are heading out west for a three-game series Monday to Wednesday with the 60-69 San Diego Padres. After an off day on Thursday they’ll go to San Francisco for three games with the 68-61 Giants.
Aug 24, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Ben Revere (2) scores a run in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Cardinals
The week started extremely well for the Cardinals. They opened with a three-game sweep of the free-falling Cincinnati Reds, but after a day off of Thursday they lost 2-of-3 in their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Either way, the Cardinals finished the week with a 4-2 record and cut their deficit in the central from three games to 1 ½.
They did have to place back-up second baseman Mark Ellis on the disabled list with an oblique strain, but that won’t affect their offense much as he’s gotten fewer than 200 plate appearances this season.
The Cardinals have three games at the freshly rejuvenated Pittsburgh Pirates to open the week, after an off day on Thursday they’ll head home for a four-game weekend series with the Chicago Cubs that includes a Saturday double header.
The Cardinals are still expected to win the Central division according to the projection system at FanGraphs, but Baseball Prospectus still gives the edge to Milwaukee.
Aug 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) hits the ball against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates
Despite taking 2-of-3 from Milwaukee the Pirates only picked up ½ a game in the standings, going from 5 ½ back when the week started to five back when it ended.
The Pirates lost their first two games to the Braves on Monday and Tuesday to cap a seven-game losing streak. They finally broke the streak on Wednesday with a walk-off win over Atlanta. After a day off on Thursday they took 2-of-3 from Milwaukee to finish the week with a 3-3 record.
The Pirates got Andrew McCutchen back from the disabled list on Tuesday, and while he didn’t do anything to the Braves, he had four hits, including two home runs, against the Brewers. He reached base five times and scored four runs in the series against Milwaukee.
The Pirates open the week with three games against the Cardinals, so every Brewers fan should be cheering for the Cardinals for a few days. They have a day off on Thursday before a weekend series with the Reds.
Aug 24, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) makes a play to put out the Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Reds
Despite the Brewers struggles the Reds feel even further behind in the division, going from 8 ½ back at the start of the week to 9 ½ back at the end of the week.
The Reds started the week with five losses, to make it seven straight losses going back into last week. They beat the Braves on Saturday and Sunday to finish the week at 2-5. They got Brandon Phillips back from the disabled list on Monday, he hadn’t played since July 9.
Unfortunately for the Reds, Joey Votto and Homer Bailey are still on the disabled list, and the team doesn’t look like much of a contender without them.
The Reds will have Monday off before three-game series with the Cubs in Cincinnati and against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Aug 18, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) high fives Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez (9) after Baez
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs picked up two games in the division this week, and had the best week of any team in the division. They opened by beating the Mets to cap off a four-game weekend series. They followed by taking 1-of-3 from the Giants and they capped the week by sweeping the first-place Baltimore Orioles in three games.
So if you are keeping track, the Cubs went 5-2 last week, even though they played a playoff contender in the Giants, and a division leader in the Orioles. The Cubs cut their deficit in the division from 16 games to 14 games, although at this point that number is meaningless as the Cubs would need about a dozen miracles to become contenders.
At 12-9 in August the Cubs are right up there with Milwaukee (13-10) and St. Louis (13-9) for the month.
The Cubs have a great chance to play spoiler this week. After a day-off on Monday they have a three-gamer with the Reds before a weekend series with the Cardinals.