Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2018 ) Milwaukee 0, Pittsburgh 0
The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates will be ready for the All-Star break by the time they’re done with this week’s series. The National League Central rivals clash Thursday in Pittsburgh for the first of five games over four days heading into the break.
The five-game set will continue a taxing week for the Brewers, who went to extra frames twice in their three-game series at Miami - including a 5-4 loss in 12 innings Wednesday. Milwaukee’s bullpen had to work overtime in the finale after starter Freddy Peralta lasted only 3 2/3 innings. Pittsburgh has won three of its last four games after blanking Washington 2-0 on Wednesday. The Pirates have claimed three of five meetings with the first-place Brewers this season, outscoring Milwaukee 21-12.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Wade Miley (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (5-7, 4.05)
After his second lengthy stint on the disabled list, Miley is ready to return from a strained right oblique and make his third start for the Brewers. The 31-year-old missed the first month of the season with a groin injury and went to the 60-day disabled list after leaving his second outing in the first inning. Miley is 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in seven starts against the Pirates, but he hasn’t beaten them since 2013.
Taillon had a couple of rough outings early in the season, but he has posted a 3.51 ERA across his last eight outings with five quality starts over that stretch. The 26-year-old allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a tough-luck loss against Philadelphia on Saturday. Taillon is 1-4 with a 3.70 ERA in eight starts against the Brewers, including a loss and a no-decision this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers 1B Jesus Aguilar, who was named to the All-Star team Wednesday after winning the Final Vote, is 9-for-23 with three doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs over his past six games.
2. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte is 12-for-26 with two homers and six RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.
3. Milwaukee CF Lorenzo Cain is 6-for-13 in three games since returning from the disabled list and has recorded multiple hits in each of the last two.
PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Pirates 3