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Cubs-Brewers Preview

Apr 23, 2010 - 4:46 AM By MATT BROWN STATS Editor

Chicago (6-9) at Milwaukee (7-7), 8:10 p.m. EDT

When the Milwaukee Brewers faced the Chicago Cubs earlier this month, they dropped two of three despite putting 19 runs on the board.

The Brewers scored more than that in their last game alone.

Offensive fireworks could be in store this weekend when the sizzling Brewers return home for a three-game set with the NL Central rival Cubs.

These teams played an entertaining series at Wrigley Field from April 12-15, with the Cubs outscoring the Brewers 22-19 and both clubs plating at least five runs in each game. Milwaukee (8-7) appeared bound for a disastrous nine-game trip after leaving Chicago and dropping its first two in Washington by a combined 13-3 score, but its dangerous lineup has since ignited.

The Brewers beat the Nationals 11-7 in that series' finale before sweeping a three-game set in Pittsburgh, outscoring the Pirates 36-1. Milwaukee concluded its trip Thursday with a 20-0 rout, the fifth-most lopsided shutout in the major leagues since 1900.

"We have our swagger back," Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, who homered, doubled, singled and drove in five runs, told the team's official website.

Braun's three hits Thursday raised his average to .417, and he's 8 for 16 with two homers and eight RBIs during the Brewers' four-game winning streak. He also thrived in the series at Wrigley, going 7 for 14 with two homers and seven RBIs.

Prince Fielder ended his April drought Thursday with his first home run, and Jim Edmonds and Rickie Weeks each doubled twice as 12 of Milwaukee's 25 hits went for extra bases.

Fielder believes the Brewers are surging because they're having fun again.

"We didn't have any of our personality at all. It was a little too serious," he said of the team's 4-7 start. "For a while, even when we win, it wasn't us. Now, win or lose we're going to have fun."

One of Braun's home runs against the Cubs came off Ryan Dempster (1-0, 3.15 ERA), who will get the ball for Chicago on Friday. The right-hander got his only win April 12 against Milwaukee in a 9-5 victory despite allowing season highs of five runs, seven hits and four walks in 6 1-3 innings. He's 12-3 with a 2.88 ERA lifetime versus the Brewers - the only opponent he's defeated more than nine times.

Dempster may have little margin for error. The Cubs (6-10) have dropped five of six, failing to score more than twice in any of those losses. They went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position Thursday night in New York in a 5-2 defeat to the Mets.

"We just have to keep battling," second baseman Mike Fontenot told the Cubs' official website. "I still think - and a lot of people do - that we have good players on this team. Everybody's capable of doing well. We just have to try to get out of this funk, keep battling and keep our heads up."

Chicago's slumping bats will face Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan (0-0, 7.20), making his second start - both against the Cubs - after opening the season on the disabled list due to cervical disc pain. In Milwaukee's 8-6 win April 15, the right-hander gave up four runs over five innings.

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee is 2 for 20 with no extra-base hits in his last five games, but he's 23 for 54 with six homers and seven doubles in his career against Suppan. The six homers are tied for his most against any pitcher.