Ryan Braun has been very hard on Cardinals pitchers this season.

There will be no more shortened weeks, and no more breaks for overhyped meaningless games that nobody wants to watch. We are at Week 17 of the season, and there is still time, albeit not much, to turn your team around to make a run for a money finish. If you need a boost in the pitching categories, may I suggest that you check out our new feature called “Extra Innings.” Each week, Bryan Everson gives sage advice on who to start and who you should sit, and he’s been spot on every week so far. He tries to find pitchers that will not only end up with a win, but do so with decent K totals as well as strong WHIP and ERA ratios.

Of course, Leading Off will continue to provide you with your two start pitcher list, park factor information, and speed recommendations, as well as the Series of the Week. So without further delay…

Series of the Week – Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals – Mon to Thurs

For the better part of the season the Chicago Cubs have dominated the NL Central, maintaining a fairly strong lead over the Cardinals and Brewers. But with the acquisition of CC Sabathia the Brewers have served notice that they intend to make a serious run at winning the division, and the Cardinals are perennial contenders that can never be counted out of the running. Both teams are within striking distance of the Cubs, with the Brewers at three games back, and the Cards back by just a pair of games. Theses two teams face each other for a four game showdown at Busch Stadium III, Monday through Thursday this week, with second place on the line. With Cubs having dropped their last three games and battling a mini-slump of sorts, the winner of this series could find itself sitting atop the standings on the NL Central by the time its all over.

The pitchers scheduled for the four game set are as follows; on Monday the Brew Crew will trot out Seth McClung (5-5, 4.16) while the Cardinals will counter with Joel Piniero (3-4, 4.52). Tuesday’s game will feature Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.71) for the Brewers and Kyle Lohse (12-2, 3.35) for the Cardinals. On Wednesday, the Brewers send out their new ace acquisition, CC Sabathia (3-0, 1.88), and the Cardinals will counter with Braden Looper (9-7, 4.60). The series finale will feature the Brewers’ other ace, Ben Sheets (10-3, 2.88) against the Cardinals’ Todd Wellemeyer (8-4, 4.22).

The teams have faced each other nine times already this season, with the Brewers holding a slim advantage, having won five of the meetings. Cardinals hitters to keep an eye on during this series include Albert Pujols, of course, whose .357 average against the Brewers leads the team. Skip Schumaker (.342), Troy Glaus (.320), and Ryan Ludwick (.320) have all enjoyed feasting on Brewers pitchers. Of course, those numbers all pre-date the arrival of Sabathia.

Brewers hitters to watch over the four game set are led by Ryan Braun who has absolutely crushed Cardinal pitching this season to the tune of a .485 average with four home runs. Other hitters that have done well against the Cards include Corey Hart (.324), Prince Fielder (.300), and Craig Counsell (.357).