Padres-Brewers Preview

With both teams still scrapping to reach the playoffs, the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres continue their season-ending four-game series Friday night at Miller Park.

Milwaukee (81-78) lost the series opener 9-5 to San Diego (88-71) on Thursday, again failing to narrow a two-game gap on slumping NL Central leader Chicago. The Brewers have dropped consecutive games, while the Cubs have lost three in a row.

Another loss for the Brewers on Friday combined with a Chicago win over Cincinnati would eliminate them from playoff contention and give the Cubs the division crown.

"We sit and watch the Cubs lose two nights in a row; not being able to take advantage hurts a lot," said Brewers bench coach Dale Sveum, who filled in Thursday while manager Ned Yost served a one-game suspension. "We're in a rough situation."

The Brewers have only won three of their last nine games, severely denting their playoff hopes.

"We're running out of time," said third baseman Ryan Braun, who committed three of Milwaukee's five errors on Thursday. "I was just inconsistent defensively at third base. I wasn't nervous. I wasn't pressing. It was just one of those things where I didn't get the job done."

San Diego, which improved to 4-0 in the season series with the Brewers, is one game ahead of NL East co-leaders New York and Philadelphia, and division rival Colorado in the wild-card race. The Padres are also one game behind Arizona for the NL West lead.

They'll be scoreboard watching throughout Friday's contest at Milwaukee, as the Mets host Florida, the Phillies face Washington and the Rockies meet the Diamondbacks.

Padres starter Greg Maddux (13-11, 4.10 ERA) looks to rebound from a shaky outing Sunday in a 7-3 loss to the Rockies. The veteran right-hander allowed five runs and eight hits before being pulled after 3 2-3 innings.

"Greg was a little sore. I think the back had a little bit of an effect on him today. I'm sure he won't tell you there," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official Web site. "I think he was a little higher in the strike zone than what Greg normally is."

Maddux has struggled in his last three outings, going 1-2 with a 10.50 ERA following an outstanding stretch during which he went 5-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts.

The four-time Cy Young award winner won his last game against Milwaukee on May 25, allowing three runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-6 home victory. He lost two starts at Miller Park last season, though, giving up eight runs and 16 hits in 11 1-3 frames.

The Brewers will try to support struggling Chris Capuano (5-12, 5.09), who has not won a game since May 7. Since then, the left-hander has lost a franchise-record 12 consecutive decisions with a 6.11 ERA in 21 games -- 17 starts. Milwaukee has lost all 21 of those contests.

Capuano was better when he started in place of injured Ben Sheets on Sunday, but did not factor in the decision after allowing one run and seven hits in five innings of a 7-4 loss at Atlanta.

"I felt good out there throwing the ball. I've been working on stuff lately. I've been having problems all year missing spots and keeping the ball up, so I've been using my time in the bullpen to try and kind of get my mechanics going good," Capuano said. "I feel like I made a little progress."

The five-year veteran is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three home starts against the Padres.