The clock is ticking.

The Brewers head into September 12 games behind division-leading St. Louis, where they open a three-game series tomorrow.

"If we want a chance," said veteran infielder Craig Counsell, "we have to sweep."

The Brewers and Cardinals face off six times during the final 32 games, a slate that's chock-full of teams contending for post-season berths, including the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies, who follow St. Louis on the schedule.

Milwaukee has fared well against the Cardinals, especially in St. Louis, where they record is 9-3 in the last two years, including a sweep this past May. But the Brewers are a much different team then they were then, thanks to a pitching staff that has been in meltdown mode for the last few months.

Braden Looper will take the mound in the series opener to face his old team, followed by Dave Bush and Manny Parra. Manager Ken Macha used the off-day today to give Yovani Gallardo an extra day off before his next start, meaning he'll miss the Cardinals this time around.

St. Louis, meanwhile, will send Joel Pinero, Chris Carpenter and John Smoltz to the mound. That trio is a combined 28-12 and Pinero and Carpenter own ERAs of 3.11 and 2.82, respectively.

The rough final month follows a second-half stretch that saw Milwaukee play 22 straight games against teams with records below .500. It would have been the perfect time for the Brewers to make a move in the division race, but instead, they went 10-12.

"We've been struggling against the lesser teams, but maybe we'll turn around and beat the teams that are ahead of us," said general manager Doug Melvin. "We just need to win every game that's in front of us."

Hardy back Tuesday: Manager Ken Macha will have a tough decision when it comes to his starting shortstop beginning tomorrow.

J.J. Hardy will return from Class AAA Nashville. While he was back in the minors, trying to regain the stroke that made him a all-star last season, highly-touted prospect Alcides Escobar was staking a claim to the position in Milwaukee.

Carrying a .229 average after season-long struggle at the plate, Hardy was surprised by his demotion. He didn't exactly light the world on fire with the Sounds, but recovered from a slow start to hit .246 (16-for-65) with three home runs, two doubles and 10 RBI.

Neither Hardy nor his agent, Mike Seal, have come out and said it directly, but there have been suggestions that the Brewers made the move with Hardy's service time in mind. The extra year of team control could conceivably make Hardy more attractive to potential trade partners as the Brewers look for pitching help.

Other call-ups: The Brewers probably won't be bringing a lot of players to Milwaukee when rosters expand on Tuesday.

Both Escobar and Jason Bourgeois would normally be among the group of prospects getting some late-season exposure, but both of those players are already with the team.

Nashville opens a key four-game series against Memphis, which leads the Sounds by a half-game in the division race, making it hard to call up infielder Mat Gamel. Catcher Angel Salome probably would have gotten a look, too, but he's on the disabled list with an injured finger.

Most of Milwaukee's top prospect are in the lower levels of the system and with Class AA Huntsville headed to the Southern League playoffs, that makes it more unlikely that those players will get called up.

No moves for Hoffman: Despite reports that Trevor Hoffman was claimed on waivers last week by the San Francisco Giants, no deal between that team and the Brewers appears imminent.

Teams often put veteran players on waivers after the non-waiver trade deadline to gauge the interest of other teams. And teams, in turn, often make claims on players if only to keep them from going to a division rival in the midst of a pennant race.

FoxSports.com reported last week that Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron, Braden Looper and Craig Counsell all cleared waivers and, thus, can be traded to any team. Melvin wouldn't confirm that report but also didn't elaborate.

It's unlikely the Brewers would make a deal for one of their veterans at this point. First of all, the Brewers would be unlikely to get any high-ceiling prospects in return and would be better off by offering their free agents to be arbitration and getting extra draft picks in return, should those players sign elsewhere. And teams are less inclined to make deals at this point if players aren't eligible to participate in the post season.

Gerut improving: One of the many reasons fans have called for Melvin's head this season has been his decision to trade Tony Gwynn Jr. for Jody Gerut. Gerut struggled his first few weeks with Milwaukee and was pretty much a non-contributor while Gwynn finally evolved into the leadoff hitter and centerfielder the Brewers envisioned after arriving in San Diego. Gerut is hitting .205 since joining the Brewers on May 21, but has come on strong as of late, posting a .310 average with two homers and nine RBI in his last 27 games.

Quick hits: The Brewers bullpen has pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings and have a 2.11 ERA in the last 11 games. … David Weathers hasn't allowed a run in seven straight outings. … The four double-plays turned Sunday against Pittsburgh matched a season-high. … The Brewers' 21-game home winning streak against Pittsburgh is the longest in baseball in 55 years. … Sunday was just the second time in the second half that the Brewers were in a position to sweep a series. … Craig Counsell is a career .391 hitter with the bases loaded. … Casey McGehee is third among National League rookies with 11 home runs. … Trevor Hoffman has converted 10 consecutive save opportunities and is 29-for-31 this season. … Sunday's game was the last of a 22-game stretch against teams with sub-.500 records; the Brewers went 10-12. … Yovani Gallardo will get an extra day off before his next start, which means he will not pitch against the Cardinals. … Manny Parra has added a cut-fastball to his assortment of pitches.

Injury report: Lefty Chris Capuano continues his attempted comeback after a second "Tommy John" surgery this week when he reports to the Brewers' Rookie League affiliate in Helena, Montana. Capuano made three appearances in the Arizona Rookie League, allowing a pair of runs in three­ innings of work. … Corey Hart has been back in the batting cage taking hacks as he works his way back after an appendectomy earlier this month. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment next weekend. … Reliever Seth McClung threw off a mound Sunday for the first time since spraining his right elbow in July. … Reliever Jesus Colome also threw off a mound Sunday and could be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday.

On the farm: Nashville opens its final home stand of the season with four games against PCL American North division leading Memphis. The Sounds trail the Redbirds by just a half-game. … After missing the entire 2008 season due to injury, RHP Maverick Lasker was named to the Arizona Fall League All-Star team. He went 5-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 13 games. ... Class A Wisconsin has lost seven straight games.

He said it: "When you're 12 out, with every game you're kind of hanging on the cliff." -- IF Craig Counsell, on the Brewers slim post-season hopes.

Attendance (through 65 home games): Total -- 2,480,233; Average -- 38,157; Sellouts -- 27.

Under the roof: Brewers record with roof open -- 17-14; Closed -- 16-18; Total home record -- 33-32.

This week: Today's an off-day for the Brewers who open a short, three-game road swing Tuesday night in St. Louis. Then it's back home Friday, when the Giants come to town for a second time this season.

N.L. Central standings (through games Sunday): 1, St. Louis, 77-55; 2, Chicago, 65-63 (-10); 3, MILWAUKEE, 64-66 (-12); 4, Houston, 62-68 (-14); 5, Cincinnati, 56-73 (-19½); 6, Pittsburgh, 53-75 (-22).