Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2018 ) Milwaukee 1, Pittsburgh 2

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 LH Brent Suter (8-5, 4.53 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Clay Holmes (0-1, 7.11)

Suter (left forearm tightness) will come off the 10-day disabled list to make his first start since July 2 when he allowed five runs over five innings in a no-decision against Minnesota. The 28-year-old won three straight starts in June, but he has given up nine runs in 11 frames in his last two outings since then. Suter is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in eight games (three starts) against the Pirates.

Holmes is set to make his second big-league start, and he hopes it goes better than the first. The 25-year-old rookie was dinged for four runs in 2 1/3 innings in a loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 4. Holmes, a ninth-round draft pick in 2011, is 6-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) at Triple-A Indianapolis this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Starling Marte, who is 15-for-35 during a nine-game hitting streak, is 0-for-3 with three strikeouts versus Suter.

2. Brewers RF Eric Thames left Friday’s game with right hamstring tightness.

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

PREDICTION: Brewers 8, Pirates 4