Brewers have to beat the pesky Reds as time runs short in wild-card playoff race

The Brewers are guaranteed nothing if they keep winning but if they don't they know for certain what the consequences will be. 

The Brewers have five games remaining, beginning with their contest Wednesday night against Cincinnati at Miller Park. They currently are 1 1/2 games behind Colorado for the second NL wild-card berth but that could change for the worse by the time they take the field because the Rockies jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Miami at home this afternoon.

So, with that out of their control, the Brewers just have to keep winning and give themselves a chance. It hasn't been easy against the Reds, who battled until the end Tuesday night before losing, 7-6. 

The Reds have plenty of offensive firepower, which makes them tough to beat in any game in which their pitchers do a decent job.

Rookie right-hander Brandon Woodruff (2-2, 3.76) will take the mound for the Brewers and the Reds are going with veteran righty Homer Bailey (5-9, 6.96), who is 1-1 with a 7.07 ERA in three outings against them this year.