MILWAUKEE -- Back in playoff position -- though by the slimmest of margins -- the Milwaukee Brewers will try to put a disappointing road trip behind them and get back on track Monday night when they open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

Milwaukee dropped three of five games on its short swing through Chicago and St. Louis. As a result, manager Craig Counsell's squad returns to action Monday 3 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the National League Central and just a half-game ahead of the Cardinals for the second NL wild-card spot.

"Honestly, these guys feel like they own some part of the Brewers, and they don't," Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress said of the Cardinals. "We showed them today that we're not going nowhere, we're still in second place, we're still going to fight."