Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2018 ) Milwaukee 8, Pittsburgh 3

The Milwaukee Brewers opened their final road trip in impressive fashion and look to keep the pressure on in the National League Central division race when they continue a three-game series at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Four home runs - including the 30th of the season by Travis Shaw - led the Brewers to an 8-3 victory in the series opener Friday night.

Milwaukee's bullpen produced five scoreless innings as the club pulled within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Chicago Cubs and strengthened its hold on the first wild-card spot in the NL. The Brewers have three players (Shaw, Jesus Aguilar and Christian Yelich) with at least 30 home runs for the second year in a row but just the third time in franchise history. They will take aim Saturday at Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams, one of the stingiest in terms of giving up home runs with just 15 allowed in 159 2/3 innings. Zach Davies gets the nod for Milwaukee as it looks to win for the eighth time in its last 10 road games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (2-6, 4.66 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (13-9, 3.16)

Davies has lasted exactly five innings in four straight starts, including three straight since coming off the disabled list earlier this month. He is winless in his return from rotator cuff inflammation despite allowing a total of five runs over 15 innings. The 25-year-old held the Pirates to two runs and a season low-tying three hits in five frames last Saturday but has a 6.18 ERA in eight career matchups.

Williams has won his last three decisions after blanking the Brewers over six innings Sunday in Milwaukee. He is 3-2 with a 1.01 ERA over his last six home starts. The Arizona State product is 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in five career games (four starts) against the Brewers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yelich is 9-for-16 with five runs scored during a four-game hitting streak.

2. Pirates 1B Josh Bell homered Friday while recording his fourth straight two-hit game.

3. Milwaukee has 203 home runs on the year, tied for the fifth-highest total in franchise history.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Brewers 4