The Brewers vs Cardinals matchup this week is unusual even by divisional-series standards: Milwaukee and St. Louis are set to play five games in four days at Busch Stadium because of a makeup doubleheader created by an early-May rainout.
That means the teams will squeeze a full week’s worth of baseball into a short window, with the Brewers entering the series in first place in the NL Central and the Cardinals sitting in third. St. Louis is also holding the final NL Wild Card spot, so there is more than just bragging rights on the line.
Why the series is so long
The extra game exists because a rainout in early May forced the clubs to add a makeup doubleheader. Instead of the usual three-game set, the Brewers and Cardinals will play five games across four days in St. Louis.
The timing adds another layer for Milwaukee, which is in the first 10 games of an 18-game, 17-day stretch that runs through the All-Star break. It is a demanding run, and a five-game series against a division rival only raises the pressure.
What the standings say
The Brewers come in at 55-33, while the Cardinals are 47-40. Milwaukee owns a 1.5-game cushion in the NL Central, and St. Louis is still close enough to make the series meaningful both in the division race and in the chase for the NL Wild Card spot.
Over the weekend, the Cardinals took two of three against the Cubs at Wrigley, giving them some momentum before this trip to Busch Stadium. The Brewers, meanwhile, are trying to manage the grind of a packed schedule while protecting their position at the top of the division.
Injury watch for both teams
One key storyline for Milwaukee is Brandon Woodruff, who exited on Saturday in Arizona after another shoulder injury and is listed as TBD. That status leaves the Brewers without certainty on one of their top arms as they enter a heavy stretch.
For St. Louis, the series is also a chance to keep pace in both the NL Central and the Wild Card picture. The Cardinals have enough urgency already, and a five-game home set against the division leader gives them an immediate opportunity to close the gap.
However this series plays out, the format alone makes Brewers vs Cardinals one of the more notable matchups on the schedule. Five games in four days is rare, and with both clubs still chasing important October goals, every inning should matter.
