GAME: Chicago Cubs (53-46) at Milwaukee Brewers (48-50).

TIME: Tuesday, 8:05 p.m. EDT.

Greg Maddux has looked every bit like a four-time Cy Young Award winner during his run toward 300 victories.

He will try for his 299th win when the Chicago Cubs play the middle game of their series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Maddux needed just 92 pitches over 2 hours, 15 minutes Thursday to record his second straight complete game as the Cubs rolled to a 13-2 win over Cincinnati.

"Runs, man. Runs are a beautiful thing," Maddux said. "When you get a lead like that, it changes the way the game is played."

Maddux allowed just four hits in the 105th complete game of his career. It marked the first time he pitched back-to-back complete games since Sept. 7 and 13, 2000.

The right-hander had shut out the Brewers in his previous start on July 17.

"Really, it's not about me," Maddux said of 300 wins. "It's about trying to get to the postseason and having another shot at getting a ring."

The Cubs took the opener of the series 3-1 on Monday. Matt Clement won for the first time since June 8 and Mark Grudzielanek had three hits and two RBIs.

The Brewers, who have lost nine of 12 since the All-Star break, were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Manager Ned Yost has no explanation for his players' lack of timely hitting.

"No. I'm sorry. I wish I did," he said. "The end can come tomorrow. That's the great thing about this game. You come out and all of a sudden you get hot."

The Brewers have dropped six of seven, batting .054 (3-for-55) with runners in scoring position. Milwaukee scored Monday on a sacrifice fly.

"We're going to start hitting," Brewers right-hander Victor Santos said. "It's just a matter of time.

STANDINGS: Cubs - 2nd place, 10 GB, NL Central. Brewers - 5th place, 14½ GB, NL Central.

CUBS PROBABLE STARTER: Maddux (9-7, 4.03 ERA). Maddux is 8-2 with a 1.19 ERA in 12 career starts against the Brewers.

BREWERS PROBABLE STARTER: Sheets (9-7, 2.45 ERA). Sheets has dropped back-to-back starts, including a 4-0 defeat to St. Louis on Thursday. The 26-year-old right-hander gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings, marking the first time in 16 starts that he didn't pitch six innings. Sheets is 7-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cubs.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Cubs - Aramis Ramirez, .321 avg. and 64 runs; Moises Alou, 25 HRs; Ramirez and Alou, 62 RBIs; Corey Patterson, 13 SBs. Brewers - Lyle Overbay, .335 avg. and 66 RBIs; Geoff Jenkins, 14 HRs; Scott Podsednik, 58 runs and 40 SBs.

SEASON SERIES: Brewers, 5-2.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Cubs - The Cubs are still deciding whether to appeal the recent suspensions of RHPs Carlos Zambrano and LaTroy Hawkins. "We are going over the schedule and choosing the most opportune time for them to serve before deciding," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. ... Baker said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is trying to pull off a trade to help the team before the July 31 deadline. ... RF Sammy Sosa is 11-for-26 (.423) with three homers in his career against RHP Sheets. Brewers - INF Keith Ginter was cleared to play despite a sprained wrist. ... Milwaukee acquired INF-OF Russell Branyan from Cleveland on Monday for cash. ... Sheets has dominated SS Gonzalez and 3B Ramirez, allowing a combined five hits in 41 at-bats (.122).

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Cubs - 24-26 on the road; Brewers - 25-21 at home.

INJURIES: Cubs - OF Todd Hollandsworth (shin), 15-day DL; RHP Joe Borowski (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Ryan Dempster (elbow), 60-day DL. Brewers - INF Junior Spivey (shoulder), 15-day DL.