AP Sports Preview

MILWAUKEE AT ST. LOUIS, GAME 1 OF DOUBLEHEADER

ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — The National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers open a day-night doubleheader Tuesday at Busch Stadium III against the St. Louis Cardinals, with first pitch scheduled for 1:15 p.m. CDT under cloudy skies and 81-degree temperatures.

Milwaukee (55-33) holds the best record in the NL and a 7½-game lead over second-place St. Louis (47-40) in the division standings. The teams split their season series thus far, with Milwaukee taking four of six meetings, including a 2-1 victory in the opener of this three-game set Monday.

Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat is scheduled to start the opener. Sproat enters on a three-start winning streak, most recently earning a 3-2 victory Sunday at Arizona, where he allowed one earned run on five hits over four innings with four strikeouts. In his previous start June 30 against Cincinnati, Sproat earned the win after allowing two earned runs on four hits across 5⅓ innings with seven strikeouts. His season highlights include a dominant six-inning, one-hit, 10-strikeout performance at Cincinnati on June 23.

Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker comes in swinging a hot bat. Walker drove in four runs with a home run Sunday in a 6-4 loss at Chicago, finishing 1 for 2. He also homered and drove in four runs July 2 at Atlanta. Over his past five games, Walker is batting .278 (5 for 18) with two home runs and nine RBIs.

The Cardinals took three of four in their series at Atlanta from June 30-July 2 but have lost three of four overall entering Tuesday. Milwaukee won two of three at Arizona over the weekend and has won six of its past nine.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-5 Brewers victory.

The doubleheader continues a stretch of three games between the teams at Busch Stadium through Thursday. Milwaukee then travels to Pittsburgh for three games before the All-Star break, while St. Louis hosts Atlanta for three games starting Friday.