The Cubs haven't won a World Series in 100 years and the Brewers haven't even been in the playoffs in 27 years, but you wouldn't guess either was true when you tune in this week to a huge four-game series starting Monday night at Miller Park as the Brewers host the Cubs.

The Cubs are just 22-30 away from Wrigley Field, but Miller Park never has treated the Cubs as a road team as their are many Cubs' fans in the city that is just 97 miles away from Chicago. The Cubs are 31-26 at Miller Park, helped by a usually strong ''10th man'' factor 

The Brewers have been on fire since the All-Star break. They rolled oven 7 straight games to start the second half and have won 8 of 10 overall as the Cubs have gone 4-6, cutting their lead to just 1 game over Milwaukee heading into the series.

''The series in Milwaukee is important, but it's still July,'' Chicago manager Lou Piniella told the Chicago Sun-Times. ''They've been playing awfully well, and we've been scuffling. We need to hold our ground.

''I don't think a July series is real big. A lot can happen in two months, but it is important.''

The roles are reversed from last summer.

On last June 23, the Brewers had an 81/2-game lead on the Cubs only to fritter it away.

On this June 16, the Cubs led the Brewers by 81/2 before suffering through a hitting slump that left them tied before Sunday's 9-6 victory over Florida.

"The pressure is on them this year; all the expectations are on them," Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We're just going out and having fun." 

The Brewers have lined up their pitching so their Monday and Tuesday starters are CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, who are a combined 14-3. Sabathia is 4-0 since his trade from Cleveland.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS
--Monday - C.C. Sabathia (10-8) vs. Ted Lilly (9-6) - 8:05 ET
--Tuesday - Ben Sheets (10-3) vs. Carlos Zambrano (11-4) - 8:05 ET
--Wednesday - Manny Parra (9-3) vs. Ryan Dempster (11-4) - 8:05 ET
--Thursday - Dave  Bush (5-8) vs. Rich Harden (5-2) - 2:05 ET 

MLB nl central, cubs, brewers, lou piniella, ryan braun, c.c. sabathia, ted lilly, ben sheets, carlos zambrano, manny parra, ryan dempster, dave bush, rich harden