CUBS SET TO TAKE ON FADING BREWERS...

The Cubs are currently riding a 4 game winning streak and have reached the 90 win mark with 13 game remaining (possibly 14 if the final Astros game is needed). While they will have to play some of their best baseball of the year to reach the 100 win mark, a division championship is now just a matter of time. The magic number sits at 6 games. With a sweep of the Brewers the Cubs can clinch as early as Thursday. Most likely, it will happen sometime in the St. Louis series this weekend or in New York next week.

The Brewers just fired their manager Ned Yost. They will either come out and play hard for their departed skipper or lie down and play dead just like last September. Let's hope it's the latter, because I can't think of a better way to clinch than on Thursday afternoon against the team that has been chasing you all summer.

Here's a quick preview of this Tuesday-Thursday series at Wrigley with the beer makers.

Tuesday---7:05---Comcast Sports

Ryan Dempter (15-6, 3.02) vs CC Sabathia (15-8, 2.81 ERA overall)
In the best pitching matchup of the series, the Cubs will look to give CC his first Brewers loss. The Cubs faced Sabathia in July at Miller Park. Sabathia got the no decision, but the Cubs got the win. That is still the only game Milwaukee has lost when CC was sent the mound. He's 9-0 with the Brewers, but hasn't won since nearly pitching a no-hitter two weeks ago at Pittsburg. Dempster is heading to the mound looking for his 16th win. I look for this to be a tough game for the Cubs. Chicago hit CC hard in Milwaukee, but no one has really touched him since. The Brewers are in desparation mode. We'll see how they react.

Wednesday---7:05---WCIU/ESPN

Jason Marquis (10-8, 4.36) vs Ben Sheets (13-8, 2.97)
I believe Marquis is the best 5th starter in baseball, but he has a tough test against Sheets, the NL's All Star game starter. Sheets was knocked around in his last start against Philly. The Cubs hit him hard back in Milwaukee, but he also has 2 victories at Wrigley this season. Marquis pitched last on September 6. He went 7.1 giving up only two runs in getting the win versus the Reds. Again, a tough matchup versus the Brew Crew. I think if the Cubs win Tuesday night, they come out and win this one. However, if CC shuts us down Tuesday, Sheets may have his way with us against the sometimes shaky Marquis.

Thursday---1:20---Comcast

Rich Harden (10-2, 2.04 Overall) vs Manny Parra (10-8, 4.28)
The Cubs have the advantage in this one as Harden is coming off of his win at St. Louis. The Cubs will certainly see how his arm holds up in this one. He may be on a pitch count. No need to hurt that arm with the postseason in our future. Parra only went 1.1 innings in his last start. He has also struggled versus the north siders this season. I look for the Cubs to take this game.

Honestly, going into this series I see the Cubs winning 1 of 3. Winning 2 will be a surprise to me. Sweeping the series means a division title and you might be able to book your trip to the fall classic. But the pressure is on Milwaukee so we'll see how they respond. Even if the Cubs get 1 game out of the 3, that magic number goes down to 4 with plenty of baseball left to play.