(Sports Network) - A late-season collapse last year didn't cost manager Ned Yost his job, but the Brewers aren't ready to let history repeat itself. One day after firing Yost, Milwaukee will try to get back on track tonight in the opener of a three-game series with the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Milwaukee was 8 1/2 games up in the race for the division crown last year in late June, but skidded down the stretch, was overtaken by Chicago and missed out on the playoffs. Not determined to let that happen again, Milwaukee acquired CC Sabathia prior to the trade deadline with hopes of securing a playoff berth for the first time since 1982.

Things looked good after a 20-7 August had the team with a firm grasp on the NL wild-card spot with a 5 1/2-game lead. However, the Brewers are just 3-11 this month and are now tied with Philadelphia for the final playoff spot after getting swept by the Phillies in four games over the weekend.

That prompted the Brewers to fire Yost on Monday and replace him with Dale Sveum on an interim basis for the final two weeks of the season.

The sweep at the hands of the Phils was similar to the one the Brewers suffered at home versus the Cubs in late July. Milwaukee entered a four-game set with first-place Chicago just a game back, but were swept in the series to fall five behind the pace. The Brewers never quite recovered and now trail the Cubs by eight games in the standings.

Milwaukee has lost six of 10 to the Cubs overall this year, but has won four of six in the Windy City.

The Brew Crew got a pair of homers from Ray Durham and Mike Cameron in the first game of Sunday's day-night doubleheader with the Phillies, but it wasn't enough in a 7-3 setback. Milwaukee then lost for the seventh time in eight games after losing the nightcap, 6-1, with a solo homer by Prince Fielder accounting for the lone run.

Yost elected not to move Sabathia up a day to try and salvage a game in the series, and the left-hander will instead pitch on normal rest tonight.

Sabathia has won his last 12 decisions dating back to his time in Cleveland, and is 9-0 with a 1.59 earned run average in 13 starts with Milwaukee. He hasn't lost since June 5 versus Texas and has posted back-to-back no- decisions.

The 28-year-old Sabathia faced the Reds on Wednesday and allowed three runs on eight hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts. It was the most earned runs Sabathia had allowed since yielding three to the Cubs on July 28.

Sabathia got a no-decision against Chicago on that day and is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA in two career starts against them.

Ryan Dempster will try to continue the Cubs' run of red-hot starters tonight.

The 31-year-old is 15-6 with a 3.02 ERA, matching his career high for wins in a season set in 2001 with Florida. The former closer has failed in his last three attempts at win No. 16, going 0-1 while allowing 10 runs in 20 innings over his last three starts.

Dempster got a no-decision when he faced the Cardinals last Tuesday, yielding three runs over seven innings. However, he has bested the Brewers in all three starts against them this year, posting a 2.37 ERA, and is 7-2 in 33 games (11 starts) lifetime against them with 10 saves and a 2.45 ERA.

Due to Hurricane Ike, the Cubs played just two games of their scheduled three- game set with Houston, but did so at Milwaukee's Miller Park, and got excellent pitching in both contests.

Carlos Zambrano tossed a no-hitter in Sunday's contest, and Ted Lilly followed by carrying a no-hitter of his own into the seventh inning on Monday. He ended up allowing just the one hit over seven frames and was backed by homers from Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto and Jim Edmonds in a 6-1 victory.

It was the Cubs' 90th win of the season, their first since 1998.