The first week of September has gone relatively well for both the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.Now they get a chance to face each other with the Reds attempting to escape last place in the National League Central and the Brewers looking to possibly move closer toward third place in the division.After getting wins over teams ahead of them in the standings, the Reds and Brewers begin a three-game series Monday night at Great American Ball Park.The Reds (60-82) have split their first 10 contests of the month and took three of four at Pittsburgh after getting outscored 27-9 during a five-game losing streak. Cincinnati has been in last place every day since May 13 and is 2 1/2 games behind the Brewers.The Brewers have won seven of their last 10 contests after splitting a weekend series in St. Louis. Thanks to Cincinnatis three wins, Milwaukee is six games behind the Pirates.The Reds completed their successful weekend with an 8-0 victory when Brandon Finnegan pitched five-plus scoreless innings and worked out of two bases-loaded jams. Tyler Holt also drove in three runs and Brandon Phillips had three hits.Joey Votto was 0-for-4 but over his last 12 games is batting .378 (17-for-45). Phillips is hitting .374 (46-for-123) in his last 32 contests.Milwaukee completed its weekend with a 2-1 win at St. Louis on Sunday. Ryan Braun hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning and has 27 this season. He has three home runs this month after reportedly being involved in trade talks when Milwaukee won the waiver claim for Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig.As Ive said many times, I really love Milwaukee, Braun told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel My family loves Milwaukee. My daughter was born there. My son should be born there in a couple of weeks. We love being involved in the community there. It would be great and very rewarding to see this thing through and be a part of the next winning team in Milwaukee.Braun has hit five of his home runs against the Reds, who have won seven of the first 13 meetings.Anthony DeSclafani was originally scheduled to start the series opener but his next start will be Sept. 18 vs. Pittsburgh. Manager Bryan Price said it wasnt physical and the Reds will start Keyvius Sampson.It gives (Sampson) a chance to get a little bit of a stretch and give a little bit of blow to Anthony, and he slots right back in for his next start. No red flag, but in the sense of being proactive, it makes more sense to do it right now and let him finish the season strong.Sampson made 12 starts for the Reds last season but 14 of his 15 appearances have been in the bullpen. He has a 3.90 ERA this season and in his lone start July 23 against Arizona, Sampson allowed one earned run and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.On Aug. 14 against Milwaukee, he allowed a solo home run to Braun while pitching five relief innings in a 7-3 loss.Its a great opportunity, Sampson told MLB.com. Im happy to get the chance to start a few games. Ill continue to do what Ive been doing, going after guys, attacking the zone and using all of my pitches.Milwaukees starting pitchers have a 2.83 ERA in the last 20 games and Wily Peralta opens the series.Peralta allowed four runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings in a 12-5 win vs. the Chicago Cubs. He is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA in his last six starts since returning from nearly two months with Triple-A Colorado Springs.Peralta is 5-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 career starts against Cincinnati. He faced the Reds Aug. 14 at home and allowed one run and four hits in six innings. Ken Giles Blue Jays Jersey . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Jesse Barfield Blue Jays Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-devon-travis-jersey/ . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Clayton Richard Blue Jays Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Roger Clemens Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.TORONTO - The Western Conference Final takes centre stage on TSN, as Canadas Sports Leader has the first three games of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Third Round series featuring the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. TSNs coverage of the Third Round gets underway on Saturday with Game 1 at 5 pm et/2pm pt (see below for complete broadcast schedule). Featured in the broadcast booth for TSN are play-by-play announcer Gord Miller and game analyst Ray Ferraro. Games are also available live nationally on TSN Mobile TV. NHL ON TSN host James Duthie is in the TSN Studio for pre-game shows and intermissions alongside Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger, and analysts Aaron Ward and Mike Johnson. TSN also takes a look back at the highlights from the Second Round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs with its 2nd Round in 30 Minutes show on Thursday at 7:30ppm et/4:30pm pt.dddddddddddd Throughout the NHL Playoffs, TSN has comprehensive coverage of Canadas favourite pastime on all of its properties and platforms, including TSN.ca, the TSN app for iPhone and iPad, and TSN Radio and TEAM Radio stations across the country. Stations in Toronto (TSN Radio 1050), Montreal (TSN Radio 690), Winnipeg (TSN Radio 1290), Vancouver (TEAM 1040), and Ottawa (TEAM 1200) also feature live coverage of select playoff games. RDS delivers French-language coverage of the NHL post-season through to the end of the Stanley Cup Final. TSNs broadcast schedule for the Third Round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs is as follows: Los Angeles vs. Chicago on TSN and TSN Mobile TV: Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago - Saturday, June 1 at 5pm et/2pm pt Game 2: Los Angeles at Chicago - Sunday, June 2 at 8pm et/5pm pt Game 3: Chicago at Los Angeles - Tuesday, June 4 at 9pm et/6pm pt ' ' '