• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Fielder hopes to continue hot hitting for Brewers

Sep 20, 2007 - 3:10 PM Milwaukee (78-73) at Atlanta (79-73) 7:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - Prince Fielder is having a remarkable September but the month will not be so enjoyable if the Milwaukee Brewers fail to make it to the playoffs.

Fielder will look to continue his current hitting streak when the Brewers visit the Atlanta Braves on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.

Milwaukee enters the contest trailing the Chicago Cubs (80-73) by just one game in the National League Central.

The 23-year-old Fielder, who is one of the top contenders to win the NL Most Valuable Player Award, has a hit in every game this month. The lefthanded slugger is 21-for-57 (.368) with eight home runs and 15 RBI over 17 games in September. Fielder is batting .291 with 47 blasts and 112 RBI this season.

The Brewers will send righthander Jeff Suppan (10-11, 4.73 ERA) to the mound. The 2006 NLCS MVP is also having an impressive month, going 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA over three starts.

Jeff Bennett (NR), who had his contract purchased from Class AAA Richmond on Wednesday, takes the mound for the Braves. The righthander has not pitched in the majors since going 1-5 with a 4.79 ERA in 60 relief outings in 2004.

Atlanta, which sits 5 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres (84-67) in the wild card race, has won four consecutive games.