Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 3

The longest stretch of futility in North American pro sports is over for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who can clinch their first winning season since 1992 with a victory over the host Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. The Pirates won the first two games of the series to open a two-game lead over St. Louis atop the National League Central. Andrew McCutchen is batting .360 with five homers and 12 RBI versus the Brewers this year and has hit 11 shots against them over the last two seasons.

Pittsburgh would love to secure a series sweep before continuing its nine-game road trip with a three-game showdown in St. Louis and three more at Texas. Milwaukee has lost five straight - all at home - and problems have surfaced at the back of its bullpen as closer Jim Henderson suffered a loss and a blown save in his last two appearances. Henderson surrendered a go-ahead homer on Tuesday - the third blast he's given up in four games after yielding only two in his first 48 outings.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Francisco Liriano (15-6, 2.57 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (8-14, 4.51)

Liriano is coming off a masterful performance in which he blanked St. Louis on two hits over eight innings to notch his career-high 15th victory. It marked his seventh scoreless outing and the 14th time in 21 starts the 29-year-old Dominican has surrendered fewer than two runs. Liriano is only 3-3 in his last six starts on the road, failing to work more than 4 1/3 innings in each of the three defeats.

Peralta is 0-3 in his last four starts despite giving up three runs or fewer in three of the outings. He took the loss last time out against the Los Angeles Angels, giving up three runs on four hits over six innings. Peralta is searching for his first home win since July 9 - he is 4-8 in 14 starts at Miller Park, and his 5.12 ERA there is more than a run higher than on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. Liriano is 6-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) versus the Brewers.

2. Brewers SS Jean Segura has recorded three straight two-hit performances against Pittsburgh.

3. The Pirates have won four straight in Milwaukee, a city in which they went 7-44 from 2007-12.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Brewers 2