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Brewers aim to continue winning ways, domination of Pirates

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:15 AM Milwaukee (78-56) at Pittsburgh (57-77) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- While the Milwaukee Brewers have been increasing their chances to make the postseason for the first time in 26 years, they must feel like they are running in quicksand when it comes to making up the deficit they face in the National League Central.

The Brewers attempt to continue their winning ways at PNC Park on Saturday when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Milwaukee has won six of seven - including Friday's 3-1 win over Pittsburgh - and is 16-5 since August 4.

While that stretch has enabled the Brewers to increase their lead in the NL wild-card chase by four games over St. Louis (74-61), they have actually dropped 1 1/2 games further behind the Central-leading Cubs (85-50), who are 18-4 during the same span.

As a result, Milwaukee finds itself with a 4 1/2-game bulge in the wild-card race, but a 6 1/2-game deficit in the division.

In the meantime, Jeff Suppan (9-7, 4.58 ERA) will try to hand the Pirates their ninth straight loss. The righthander posted his fourth straight win - over five starts - last Saturday when he allowed three runs and eight hits over seven innings in a 6-3 victory over Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will counter with Paul Maholm (8-7, 3.62), who hopes he can improve on his team's 1-9 mark against the Brewers. However, the lefthander took the loss in Sunday's 4-3 defeat vs. Milwaukee after permitted two runs and 12 hits over six frames.