The Cubs will visit Miller Park for three games beginning Tuesday, when Brewers right-hander Tomo Ohka faces Cubs right-hander Carlos Marmol. Milwaukee won the opener of a four-game series against the Cubs from July 6-9, then lost three straight heading into the All-Star break, and the club has yet to recover.
The Brewers have lost seven of their last eight series overall and are 8-16 since that series-opening win over the Cubs on July 6 pushed their record to 44-43. Sunday's loss at St. Louis dropped the Brewers seven games under .500, matching the season low point.
"Right now, as a team, we're kind of struggling a little bit," said backup catcher Mike Rivera. "I think every team goes through that a little bit. We just have to go out there and keep swinging."
The Cubs are headed in the opposite direction. They have won 10 of their last 14 games and are coming off their first winning homestand since the season opener from April 7-13.
Pitching matchup
MIL: RHP Tomo Ohka (3-2, 3.57 ERA)
Lifetime against the Cubs, Ohka is 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA in four starts.
CHC: RHP Carlos Marmol (4-5, 5.09 ERA)
Marmol needed 38 pitches to get through the first inning in his last start against Arizona, but opponents are hitting just .211 off him in the first inning this season.
Player to watch
Ben Sheets won't appear in the series, but he's the guy to keep an eye on this week. Sheets will see a team doctor in Milwaukee for an opinion on his tight right chest muscle, and the team hopes to have a feel of whether the right-hander will be available for his next scheduled start. If the Brewers lost Sheets again, it would be a major blow to their long-shot cause.