As different as the clubs have been, however, the gap between them is far less pronounced when each team has its ace on the mound.

After matching their season high with their eighth straight win, the Brewers turn to Ben Sheets as they try to extend the streak Thursday in the finale of a three-game road series against reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy and the Padres.

Milwaukee (70-51) has outscored opponents 49-12 while going undefeated in its last eight games. The Brewers, leading the wild-card race with a four-game cushion over St. Louis, haven't had a longer run since they won 10 in a row from Aug. 19-28, 2003.

Milwaukee's current streak has the team on pace for its best finish since it went 95-67 en route to the only World Series appearance in franchise history in 1982.

The Brewers' win streak might appear safe against a Padres team that's at the bottom of the NL West and on pace for 100 losses for the first time since 1993, but San Diego (46-74) may have a good chance of avoiding the sweep with Peavy (8-8, 2.68) on the mound.

The right-hander is second in the NL in ERA, fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (8.81) and sixth in opponent batting average (.231). However, Peavy has lost his first two starts in August, including a 6-3 defeat against Colorado on Friday in which he gave up three runs in six innings. He struck out three batters while walking a season-high five.

"I didn't do much pitching today," Peavy told the Padres' official Web site. "I didn't have a good feel for anything. That's a frustrating feeling."

Peavy is 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA in seven career starts against the Brewers, who also have to like their chances behind Sheets (11-5, 2.95).

Sheets, who's seventh in the NL in ERA, tied teammate CC Sabathia atop the league with his fourth complete game of the season in his last outing Saturday. The right-hander held Washington to five hits while striking out six in the 6-0 victory - his first since July 4.

"Everything was a little sharper," said Sheets, who was 0-3 with a 4.60 ERA during the five-start winless streak. "I made some adjustments and the adjustments paid off."

Sheets is 0-1 with a 10.34 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, whom he hasn't faced since 2003. San Diego outfielder Brian Giles, one of only two current Padres that have batted against Sheets, is 12-for-23 (.522) with two homers, five doubles and five walks against him.

Giles had two of San Diego's nine hits Wednesday, but the Padres stranded 12 runners in the 7-1 defeat.

"We just couldn't break through," Padres manager Bud Black said.

Brewers outfielder Corey Hart went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and is batting .400 (12-for-30) with two homers, 11 RBIs and five runs during Milwaukee's win streak.