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Reeling Brewers hope for rare win vs. Cubs

Sep 17, 2008 - 10:10 AM Milwaukee (83-68) at Chi Cubs (91-58) 8:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers are in the midst of a terrible collapse. Even a managerial change didn't shock them out of their offensive funk.

The staggering Brewers seek a desperately needed win on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.

The Brewers held a 5 1/2-game lead in the National League wild-card race on September 1, but have watched their advantage erode. Completely. They sit one-half game behind the New York Mets (83-67).

Milwaukee's disappointing play and some questionable in-game decisions led to the firing of manager Ned Yost on Monday. Interim manager Dale Sveum had no more success in his debut as the Brewers fell to Cubs, 5-4.

They have lost 12 of 15 games in September and have failed to score more than four runs in each of the last 14 contests.

Chicago, aided by the failures of Milwaukee, owns a nine-game lead in the NL Central.

The Brewers will send All-Star Game starter Ben Sheets (13-8, 2.97 ERA) to the mound. The righthander was lit up in his last outing, allowing five runs and nine hits in six innings to absorb a loss at Philadelphia.

He allowed six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings the last time he faced the Cubs, taking a loss on July 29.

Jason Marquis (10-8, 4.36) will make his first start since September 6 for the Cubs. The righthander was scheduled to start Friday, but was skipped over when Chicago's series against the Houston Astros was pushed back due to Hurricane Ike.

Marquis has pitched well in his last three starts, going 2-1 with a 1.77 ERA. He was knocked around by the Brewers in his lone start against them this season, allowing five runs in five innings to suffer a loss on April 29.