Game Thread #160: Brewers (77-82) at Cardinals (91-68)

Published Oct. 2, 2009 at 11:00 p.m.

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Current Series

3 game series vs Cardinals @ Busch Stadium

Milwaukee Brewers Brew Crew Ball @...St. Louis Cardinals Viva El Birdos Friday, Oct 2, 2009, 7:15 PM CDT Busch Stadium Braden Looper vs...Adam Wainwright ...Mostly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 15-20 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 60. Complete Coverage >
Sat 10/03		12:10 PM CDT
Sun 10/04		1:15 PM CDT

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So, coming into tonight's game:

• The Brewers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• They've clinched a losing season.
• They've clinched a losing season at home for the first time since 2005.
• They've clinched a losing record on the road for the ninth time in ten seasons.
• And they can't possibly finish any better than third place.

So, without further adieu, welcome to the most meaningless series the Brewers have played since leaving Maryvale.

If you're not doing anything else tonight, join us after the jump for tonight's pitching matchup, lineup and conversation on tonight's game.

Adam Wainwright (19-8, 2.58) is looking for his 20th win tonight, and the Brewers have already given him three of them. He's 3-1 with a 0.59 ERA against the Brewers this season. Since facing the Brewers the last time, he's posted a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings of work. Coming into play today, he leads the NL in wins, starts and batters faced, and is in the top five in ERA, innings and strikeouts.

Braden Looper (13-7, 5.10) leads the NL in different kinds of categories. Coming into play tonight, he leads the NL with 39 home runs allowed (a Brewer record), and as Adam McCalvy noted, he's trying to avoid becoming the first pitcher since 2004 to allow 40 in a season. He's allowed 21 in his last 16 starts, including six in his last four games. He's posted a 7.84 ERA in his those four starts. He's posted a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings against the Cardinals this season.

Adam McCalvy's link above also has tonight's lineup:

Felipe Lopez  2B
Craig Counsell  3B
Ryan Braun  LF
Prince Fielder  1B
Mike Cameron  CF
Jody Gerut  RF
Alcides Escobar  SS
Jason Kendall  C
Braden Looper  RHP

And in the bullpen:

Chris Smith faced four batters (16 pitches) yesterday, and also pitched on Wednesday.
John Axford pitched two innings (46 pitches) yesterday, and also pitched on Wednesday.
Seth McClung pitched 1.1 innings (31 pitches) yesterday..
Mitch Stetter pitched one inning (14 pitches) yesterday.
Todd Coffey pitched one inning (9 pitches) yesterday.
Carlos Villanueva last pitched on Tuesday, and is expected to start tomorrow.
Claudio Vargas last pitched on Tuesday.
David Weathers last pitched on Tuesday.
Trevor Hoffman has not pitched since Saturday.

Enjoy the game!

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