Series Preview 4/9-11: Brewers vs. Cardinals

For the second time in 2018 and first in St. Louis, the Cardinals and Brewers will square off in a three-game series. The Cardinals dropped their three-game series with the Diamondbacks, winning only the middle game, while the Cubs took three of four from the Brewers.

In Monday’s series opener, Miles Mikolas and Jhoulys Chacin will face off in the 6:05 PM Central time start. Mikolas allowed four runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings against the Brewers in Milwaukee last week, but his first outing as a Cardinal may be better remembered for what he did at the plate.

Chacin allowed six runs (three earned) through 5 ²⁄₃ frames against these Cardinals in his last start. Outfielders Dexter Fowler and Tommy Pham collected doubles off Chacin, and catcher Yadier Molina went deep.

Carlos Martinez and Brent Suter will square in the second game of the series on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM. Martinez dazzled on the Miller Park mound his last time out, shutting out the Brewers on four hits over 8 ¹⁄₃ innings while whiffing 10 batters. With a pitch count well over 100 (he was at 114), St. Louis skipper Mike Matheny opted to go to his bullpen. The left-handed Suter has lasted five innings in both of his starts this season, including his most recent outing against the Cubs, when he surrendered four runs on eight hits and three walks.

Suter has pitched against the Cardinals six times in his big-league career. Molina has taken advantage of him so far, going 4-for-7 with a double and two homers. Suter started the first game of the Cardinals and Brewers’ doubleheader last summer and allowed the first of two home runs Jose Martinez would hit in that game.

Wednesday afternoon’s series finale will is set to begin at 12:15 PM Central time and air exclusively on Facebook Live. You will not be able to watch this game on television, but the teams will have radio coverage.

The Cardinals are set to send Adam Wainwright to the mound, and the Brewers have not announced who they will turn to. Wainwright toed the rubber against Arizona in the home opener and pitched less than ideally, lasting through just two outs in the fourth. Wainwright walked four batters and allowed four hits leading to three Diamondbacks runs. He’ll look to further prove that he excels against the Brewers, particularly Ryan Braun. Wainwright has faced Braun more than any other batter in is career and has limited him to a .217 (18-for-83) batting mark with 23 strikeouts.

After sending Brandon Woodruff to Triple-A to bring in a fresh arm, the Brewers are left with a bit of a gap in their rotation when it comes to Wednesday’s game. Although Woodruff will have to remain in the Minors until at least April 17 (assuming no injuries), Milwaukee could turn to J.J. Hoover or Adrian Houser - pitchers on their active roster - or call up Junior Guerra from the Minors.

Notes:

• Greg Holland will join the Cardinals for Monday evening’s game. In correspondence, Mike Mayers was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.