News
Crew ready to take on NL Central rival
Milwaukee (69-73) at Chicago (73-68), 7:05 p.m. CT
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
09/13/09 8:32 PM ET
PHOENIX -- When the Major League Baseball schedule-maker drew up this season's list of dates, the four-game series between the Brewers and Cubs, beginning on Monday night at Wrigley Field seemed sure to be a crucial one in the race for the National League Central title and the NL's Wild Card berth. It didn't turn out that way. Both teams are playing out the string as the Cardinals have virtually locked up the division and the Rockies have a sizeable lead in the Wild Card race. The Brewers haven't been in first place since July 2 and have been at least 10 games out since Aug. 23. "I don't feel odd going into it," said Ken Macha, the club's first-year manager, who obviously wasn't in the dugout last October when the Crew made the playoffs for the first time since 1982. "I've kind of tried to address this whole September thing. I've never been in this position as a manager. "When I was a Minor League manager, every year I was in a pennant run and when I was in Oakland, every year we were in a pennant run. That was 12 straight years. So this does feel a little different." Actually, it was eight seasons as a manager, four in the Red Sox's system from 1995-98 and four managing the A's, from 2003-06. From 1999-02, he served as bench coach for A's manager Art Howe. Macha wasn't on the field the past two seasons. If the Brewers should finish under .500 this season, it would be the first time a Macha-managed team did so at any level. Macha was actually dismissed by the A's after a 93-69 '06 season that finished with a sweep by the Tigers in the American League Championship Series. "It kind of takes some of the fun out of it," Macha said, speaking about approaching September sans a pennant race. "You just have to work at it a little harder. Usually in a pennant race, the intensity level is off the charts. So I just make sure we stay focused on going out there and playing hard." Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (6-9, 5.05 ERA)
Suppan didn't have good command in his most recent start against the Cardinals, and it cost him in a three-run fifth inning in which St. Louis hit for the cycle. The big blow was a two-run homer to Albert Pujols, who got ahead in the count, 2-and-0, before hammering a misplaced fastball. "I just tried to move it around and locate the best I could," Suppan said. He has been much more effective this season on the road, going 4-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 12 starts. At Miller Park, Suppan is 2-7 with a 6.39 ERA. CHC: RHP Ryan Dempster (9-8, 4.03 ERA)
Dempster picked up the win in his last start, against the Pirates, but was helped by a seven-run first inning. That will make any starting pitcher relax. Dempster wasn't sharp and admitted that after the game, and scattered eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. He's 5-3 with a 4.59 ERA at Wrigley, and will be shooting for his 10th win, which would be his fourth season with double-digit wins and second in a row. He's 2-1 against the Brewers this season, last facing them July 2 and picking up a win in a 9-5 Cubs victory. Tidbits
Mark DiFelice left Sunday's 5-3 win over the D-backs after pitching to three batters in the fourth inning with a right shoulder strain. ... Mike Cameron was back in center field for the three-game weekend set at Chase Field after missing four games with a sore right hamstring. He was 5-for-13 in the series, and went 3-for-5 with a double in Saturday night's 9-2 Milwaukee victory. ... Reliever Seth McClung (strained ligament in right elbow) tossed a simulated game at Chase Field on Sunday and is slated to throw again in the Arizona Instructional League at the Brewers' nearby Maryvale training complex on Wednesday. He's been on the 15-day disabled list since July 25. "The report was that he had a lot better pop on the ball than he did the last time," Macha said. McClung has said he'd like to get a Major League appearance before the season ends, with 20 games to go. "I want the guys to go home feeling they're healthy and they can be productive pitchers next season," Macha added. "I'd rather have them do that than go home with a cloud hanging over their head." So Macha will monitor how McClung progresses. Tickets
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• WTMJ 620 Up next
• Tuesday: Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 12-11, 3.59) at Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 8-6, 3.77), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Brewers (TBD) at Cubs (Rich Harden, 9-8, 4.04), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Brewers (TBD) at Cubs (Randy Wells, 10-8, 2.96), 1:20 p.m. CT
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
