“We’ve been trying to get Gaudin ready for the postseason and that’s not coming along very well,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

The Brewers got yet another victory despite a shaky starting rotation that’s held up to every move Sveum’s made. The next risk comes Saturday, when All-Star Ben Sheets (sore elbow) starts for the first time since Sept. 17.

Brewers starter Jeff Suppan, 0-3 with a 10.47 ERA in his first four September starts, allowed eight hits and a walk over five innings. McClung (6-6) did the rest, striking out six and retiring 10 of the final 11 Cubs.

“Dale said that we were going to go out there and play with kind of a football mentality as far as showing your emotions,” McClung said. “That just fits me perfect.”

Suppan’s lone mistake was a belt-high pitch to Jim Edmonds in the second that Edmonds launched in the Brewers’ bullpen to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. But Kendall tied it in the bottom of the second with his RBI double, scoring Hart.

Dempster, who’ll start Game 1 of the National League Division Series, threw five innings in his final tuneup before the postseason. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out four over 80 pitches before being replaced by Marshall.

“I felt really good, prepared physically and mentally,” Dempster said. “I did what I needed to do, and now I have another start five days from now. I will be ready for that one, it’ll be exciting.”

Piniella said Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ted Lilly would start following Dempster in the playoffs.

After Sheets, Milwaukee will send CC Sabathia (10-2, 1.78) to the mound on short rest for the third consecutive time on Sunday if it’s necessary to secure a postseason berth.

Notes: The Cubs are under no pressure in this final three-game series, having locked up homefield advantage in the NL. They still played their starting lineup except Mark DeRosa, sidelined with a strained calf. ... DeRosa said he hopes to play on Sunday, but won’t jeopardize the postseason to do it. ... Sveum said Durham came out due to a tight hamstring that’s been bothering him. ... Cubs C Geovany Soto left in the sixth inning after reaggravating his sore left hand, but said it’s nothing to worry about. ... Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said general manager Doug Melvin would make the decision whether to retain Sveum for the 2009 season.

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