Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2018 ) Milwaukee 3, Pittsburgh 7

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of their hottest stretch in nearly two months, and they’ll try to keep it rolling when they host the Milwaukee Brewers for a doubleheader Saturday. Pittsburgh has won five of its last six, including the first two games of the five-game set against the National League Central-leading Brewers.

Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has held a powerful Milwaukee lineup to three runs in each of the first two contests. The Pirates are 5-2 against the Brewers this season, outscoring them 34-18. Milwaukee has dropped three straight and is 1-4 on its current road trip. The Brewers have struggled within the division, going 19-22 against Central opponents.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Dish455 (Milwaukee), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet - Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (6-6, 3.81 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (5-6, 4.50)

Anderson has allowed a single run in each of his last four starts, posting a 1.23 ERA over that span, but he has only one win to show for it. The 30-year-old labored through 4 2/3 innings Monday at Miami, allowing eight hits and two walks but limiting the damage to one unearned run in a no-decision. Anderson is 6-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 12 starts against the Pirates, but he was tagged for five runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Pittsburgh on May 6.

Nova bounced back from one of his worst starts of the season to beat Washington on Monday. The 31-year-old surrendered five home runs July 3 at the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he held the Nationals to three runs - including two homers - over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win Monday. Nova is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA in five starts against the Brewers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Starling Marte, who is 15-for-35 during a nine-game hitting streak, is 11-for-22 with four extra-base hits versus Anderson.

2. Brewers 3B Travis Shaw, who hit his 17th home run Friday, is 11-for-14 with two doubles and three homers versus Nova.

3. Pittsburgh has 12 stolen bases in its last seven games and has been successful in 19 of its last 21 attempts.

PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Pirates 3