Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 9, Milwaukee 1

The Milwaukee Brewers go after a second straight series victory in their battle for a National League playoff spot Sunday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Pirates pay a visit the finale of a three-game set. The Pirates evened the series after pounding out 14 hits in a 9-1 triumph Saturday as the Brewers fell 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and into a virtual tie with Colorado for the second wild card.

Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich homered for the third straight contest Saturday and has gone deep five times in his last seven outings to push his career-best total to 23 while extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Chase Anderson gets the call in the rubber match for the Brewers and Pittsburgh counters with fellow right-hander Chris Archer, who goes for his second win in his fifth start since being acquired. The Pirates, who won for just the third time in 12 games Saturday, scored 15 times in the last two contests after managing just seven runs in the previous seven encounters. Versatile Adam Frazier has helped lead the way for Pittsburgh in its offensive revival while going 4-for-9 with five RBIs - three coming on a homer Saturday - and three runs scored in the series.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chris Archer (4-6, 4.41 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (8-7, 3.92)

Archer was pulled from his last start on Monday due to discomfort in his left leg after limiting Atlanta to one run on five hits and a walk across four innings. The 29-year-old has not completed more than five innings in his first four starts with the Pirates, going 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA since coming over from Tampa Bay. Lorenzo Cain is 7-for-13 with a homer and four RBIs versus Archer, who gave up one run over six innings in his only career outing against Milwaukee.

Anderson is unbeaten in his last six starts after limiting Cincinnati to two runs on two hits over six innings to win 5-2 on Monday. The 30-year-old Texan permitted eight runs across 8 2/3 innings without being involved in the decision in his previous two starts, but has held opponents to two runs or fewer in nine of his past 11 outings. Starling Marte is 12-for-25 with two homers against Anderson, who is 6-4 (0-2 in 2018) with a 3.34 ERA in 13 career games versus Pittsburgh.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marte has 16 hits against Milwaukee this year, including five home runs, and owns 11 RBIs in the season series.

2. Cain is 12-for-31 during his eight-game hitting streak, raising his batting average to .308.

3. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (8-for-24) and RF Gregory Polanco (10-for-24) own six-game hitting streaks.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Brewers 3