The best way to recover from an unexpected sweep at the hands of a division rival than by going out, regrouping and methodically sweeping the division's cellar dweller, which is exactly what the Brewers did over the weekend in Houston.

And just like that, all the angst and worry that had infiltrated Brewers Nation was, at least temporarily, forgotten.

After taking three straight from the Astros, and the opener of a three-game set at St. Louis Monday afternoon, the Brewers' lead in the NL Central is back up to 10.5 games and their magic number for clinching the title is down to 11 games.

All in all, it's hard to argue that things are pretty good these days.

The road ahead, though, does have a significant challenge awaiting. After wrapping up the season series with the Cardinals, the Brewers return home for a four-game set against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies in a potential NLCS preview.

The series also gives the Brewers their best chance of making a run at home-field advantage in the playoffs. Currently, Philadelphia (89-48) holds a 6.5-game lead over the Brewers (85-57) for the top overall seed.

The Phillies have two more games at home against current Wild Card leader Atlanta before making their way to Milwaukee where they will send Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Vance Worley to the mound.

The Brewers will start Chris Narveson, Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf and Yovani Gallardo during the series.

It's all cyclical: If you had to pick one Brewers player to hit for the cycle this season, it's doubtful that backup catcher George Kottaras would have been high on your list.

But that it was Kottaras who accomplished the feat – for just the seventh time in franchise history – underscores the flukey nature of collecting a single, double, triple and home run in one game.

"Hitting the cycle and having three homers in a game, they're both rarities," Kottaras told MLB.com reporter Adam McCalvy after the game. "I'll take it, for sure."

Prior to Kottaras, only Mike Hegan (1971), Charlie Moore ('80), Robin Yount ('88), Paul Molitor ('91), Chad Moeller ('04) and Jody Gerut ('10), have hit for the cycle in a Milwaukee uniform.

Cowboy up: In case you haven't yet seen the pictures, the Brewers sported some interesting attire Sunday night while traveling from Houston to St. Louis.

The team, under the suggestion of manager Ron Roenicke, were dressed in their best western wear, including hats and buckles, when they got on their charter flight.

Reliever Kameron Loe dismissed the notion that the suits were along the same lines as the infamous "sweep suits," worn by the 2001 team after a mid-summer sweep of the Cubs that was followed by yet another tumble to the NL Central cellar.

"It's a plane trip," Loe told MLB. com. "We're still going to be the same guys on the field. ... It's not a lack of respect at all. Baseball, for most of its history, has been fun on the field, guys goofing around. It's part of the game and part of why America loves it."

Nyjer Morgan – what a surprise – seemed to especially embrace the spirit of the moment.

Dillard returns: The team planned to recall reliever Tim Dillard as soon as the minor league season was over and Monday, general manager Doug Melvin held true to his word.

The right-hander was sent down Aug. 26 to add an additional bat to the Brewers' bench (Taylor Green). Dillard had made 21 appearances this season, posting a 4.81 ERA.

So far, the Brewers have opted not to add any additional players from the minor leagues, including top prospect Mat Gamel or pitching prospects Wily Peralta or Mike Fiers.

"More is not always necessarily good," manager Ron Roenicke said Monday. "It disrupts a lot things. All of a sudden, you've got too many batting practice groups, you shorten the groups. When you're bringing guys up to play them, to get a look at them, it's different.

"We're not bringing guys up to play them, we're bringing guys up to help us win ball games. There's a difference."

Roenicke has said in the past that Gamel was under consideration for a call-up but it was decided that there were already enough left-handed bats on the bench, so Gamel wouldn't see much work.

The people's champ: All season long, fans clamored for infielder Taylor Green to get a promotion to the majors. When he finally arrived, they waited as patiently as possible for Green to finally get a crack at playing time.

He has answered the call quite well.

Through his first four games, Green went 5-for-8 and in his first career start, Sunday at Houston, he went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. He reached safely again Monday and is hitting .500 with three doubles in his short major league career.

Green, the Brewers' 2007 minor league player of the year, was hitting .336 with 22 home runs and 88 RBI in 120 games with Class AAA Nashville before getting called up.

Casey McGehee is still the regular starter but Roenicke plans to use Green when the matchups are favorable

"If he wasn't playing this well, I wouldn't do it," Roenicke said.

Injury report: Jerry Hairston is day-to-day after leaving the game Monday with neck soreness ... LHP Manny Parra underwent successful surgery last week to remove a bone spur from his left elbow.

On the farm: The Brewers' minor league affiliates wrapped up their seasons over the weekend, but nine players will represent the Brewers in the Arizona Fall League; OF Kentrall Davis, IF Scooter Gennett, OF Logan Schafer, LHP Jed Bradley, RHP Santo Manzanilli, LHP Dan Meadows and RHP Cody Scarpetta. IF Zelous Wheeler and RHP Brandon Kintzler will be on the taxi squad, allowing them to work out, dress and travel with their teams but they will only be available to participate in games on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Quick hits: The Brewers have used just six starters this season, fewer than any team in baseball ... Entering play Monday, Milwaukee pitchers had a 2.65 ERA over their last 47 games, the best mark in baseball during that stretch ... Five Brewers starters have double-digit victories, a feat accomplished for just the fourth time in team history ... At 40-15, the Brewers have the best record in baseball since July 6 ... After starting the season 16-31 on the road, the Brewers are 14-3 in their last 17 road games ... Corey Hart extended his hitting streak to 17 games Monday ... John Axford has converted 38 consecutive save opportunities ... A victory tonight would give the team its largest divisional lead in franchise history.

This week: It's a big week for the Brewers, who look to create more distance between themselves and the Cardinals with two more games in St. Louis before returning home to face the Philadelphia Phillies.

NL Central standings (through games Sunday)