Cubs Have Chance To Run Away With Central

The good news for the Milwaukee Brewers is that they’ve moved back into a second place tie with Saint Louis in the National League Central. The bad news is that both teams are now five games behind the Chicago Cubs, who extended their division lead after crushing Pittsburgh 8-2 at home Thursday night while the Cardinals lost at San Diego 3-0. The Brewers — who were idle Thursday — can get back to within two of the Cubs this weekend, but they’d have to sweep a three game series against the Cubbies that starts tonight (Friday) at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee also lost ground in the race for the final National League Wild Card, as both the Crew and the Cards are three games behind Colorado for that playoff spot after the Rockies pounded the Dodgers in L-A 9-1. Jimmy Nelson starts for the Brewers tonight (Friday) against Chicago veteran John Lackey.