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Garza returns for Brewers' finale with Cubs

Sep 3, 2014 - 2:36 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Perhaps Matt Garza will have the answer to a question that's been dogging the Milwaukee Brewers for the last seven games.

The right-hander makes his first start in exactly one month on Wednesday night when the Brewers return to Wrigley Field for the third and final game of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

Milwaukee's losing streak was pushed to seven games with a loss to the Cubs on Tuesday and the ill-timed skid has cost the Brewers the hold they'd had on first place in the National League's Central Division since early April. They now trail the St. Louis Cardinals by two games after having a 2 1/2-game lead as recently as Aug. 19.

Milwaukee still holds a 1 1/2-game edge for the second of two NL wild card berths.

The Brewers have lost the seven games by an average score of 7-2, and the streak is their longest since they dropped eight straight in May 2010.

"We have to get back to the way we played the majority of the first five months," Milwaukee's Ryan Braun said. "We have to go out there and continue to compete every day and it will turn around at some point."

Garza's return coincides with the loss of All-Star Carlos Gomez, who'll miss a week with a sprained wrist. Garza was shelved with a strained oblique and hasn't taken the mound since leaving in the sixth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Aug. 3.

Milwaukee's starters have a 6.21 earned run average in the seven losses.

Garza was 21-18 in 60 starts for the Cubs between 2011 and 2013 before he was dealt to Texas. He's faced them twice in 2014, splitting two decisions with a 3.21 ERA.

In 29 career assignments at Wrigley Field, he's 12-8 with a 2.74 ERA.

Chicago's Anthony Rizzo, who leads the team with 30 home runs, hasn't played since last week with a back problem and could be shelved for the season.

"We're going to be cautious with him," said Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations. "I think we'll see where we are down the road."

Chicago hasn't swept the Brewers at home in 10 years and sends rookie Kyle Hendricks to the mound to try and finish the job.

Hendricks was nicked for four runs in six innings of his debut on July 10, but has since pitched 50 2/3 innings and given up just eight earned runs. He got a no-decision in a 7-2 win against St. Louis on Friday and the Cubs have won six in a row when he's started.

He faced the Brewers on Aug. 12 and allowed six hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

On Tuesday, Jake Arrieta (8-5) came away victorious in his 100th career start by holding Milwaukee to one run and five hits over six frames.

Yovani Gallardo (8-8) surrendered all seven Chicago runs, though two were unearned, while giving up eight hits over five innings.

The Cubs have won eight of their 15 meetings with the Brewers this season.