Brewers begin season's final set

A couple of milestones are in reach for the Brewers this weekend in St. Louis, including a dubious one for Friday starter Braden Looper. He needs to keep the Cardinals in the ballpark to avoid being the first pitcher since 2005 2004 2005 to surrender 40 home runs. On a brighter note, Ryan Braun is three hits shy of 200. He’s 6-for-28 (.214) against Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright, who is aiming for his 20th win.

Felipe Lopez  2B
Craig Counsell  3B
Ryan Braun  LF
Prince Fielder  1B
Mike Cameron  CF
Jody Gerut  RF
Alcides Escobar  SS
Jason Kendall  C
Braden Looper  RHP

More on Looper: Only 17 pitchers have surrendered 40 or more homers in a season, including Hall of Famer Robin Roberts three times and Bert Blyleven, Eric Milton twice and Phil Niekro twice apice. Blyleven set the all-time record when he served up 50 homers in 1986, and Milton was the last to do it, in 2004 2005 with the Reds.