Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee - Jul 28^th 2017 8:10 PM ^ET Preview

If the Milwaukee Brewers are going to stay in the National League Central race, they need to snap out of their second-half funk this weekend. The second-place Brewers host the Central-leading Chicago Cubs for the opener of a three-game series on Friday as they begin a critical six-game homestand against division rivals.

The Cubs are 11-2 since the All-Star break and have gained seven games in the standings on the Brewers over that stretch, turning a 5 1/2-game deficit into a 1 1/2-game lead. Chicago has won nine straight road contests after a 6-3 victory over the crosstown-rival White Sox on Thursday. "We're feeling it," Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta told reporters. "We feel we've got the group that can separate ourselves at this point in time and remain in first place for the rest of the way." Milwaukee has lost nine of its last 11, including a 15-2 drubbing at Washington on Thursday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Chicago Plus, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (6-8, 4.22 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Brent Suter (1-1, 2.84)

Quintana has won each of his first two turns with the Cubs, both quality starts, while recording 19 strikeouts over 13 innings. The 28-year-old Colombian allowed three runs over six frames in his home debut at Wrigley Field on Sunday against St. Louis. Quintana is 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers, with the most recent occurring in 2015.

Suter is 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts since joining the rotation on July 3 and hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of those outings. The 27-year-old is winless in his last three turns but pitched well last time out, holding Philadelphia to one run and five hits over six innings. Suter made two relief appearances against the Cubs in April and allowed four runs in 1 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs starters are 10-0 with a 2.51 ERA and nine quality starts in 13 games since the All-Star break.

2. The Brewers are 0-37 when trailing after eight innings and 1-36 when behind after seven.

3. Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs Thursday and is batting .280 with five blasts and eight RBIs in 15 games since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa.