Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 3, Milwaukee 1

The Milwaukee Brewers seek their eighth consecutive series victory when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game set between National League Central rivals. The Pirates scratched out a 3-1 win in Saturday’s contest to clinch the season series while the Brewers, who own the top wild-card spot in the NL, dropped 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the Central.

Christian Yelich homered among two hits Saturday to extend his on-base streak to 30 straight contests for Milwaukee (85-64), which has won nine of its last 12 contests, while teammate Lorenzo Cain has hit safely in his last six straight games (11-for-25). Jhoulys Chacin goes after his first win in three starts this month when he takes the mound in the finale for the Brewers, and Pittsburgh will counter with Trevor Williams, who has been the team’s best pitcher in the second half of the season. The Pirates (73-74) can return to the .500 mark with a victory after winning seven of their last 10 contests following their rally from an early deficit Saturday. Pittsburgh first baseman Josh Bell had a single, a run scored and walk Saturday to extend his hitting streak to seven games, during which he is 10-for-24 with a pair of homers and four RBIs.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, FS Wisconsin, Dish455 (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (12-9, 3.28 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (14-7, 3.54)

Williams saw his streak of nine straight games giving up two or fewer runs come to an end Monday when he yielded four runs on six hits over five innings in a no-decision at St. Louis. The 26-year-old Arizona State product had allowed two runs and 19 hits combined across 32 2/3 innings over his previous five starts. Domingo Santana is 3-for-6 with a homer versus Williams, who owns a 2.18 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Brewers.

Chacin lost his first two starts this month, permitting seven runs (four earned) across 9 2/3 innings total, after posting an 8-2 record and 3.26 ERA in July and August combined. The 30-year-old Venezuelan is 0-2 with a 2.28 ERA in four starts this season against Pittsburgh, dropping to 2-5 with a 4.08 mark in 10 career outings against the Pirates. Francisco Cervelli is 3-for-7 against Chacin, who is eight strikeouts away from matching his career high of 153 in 2017.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte needs one homer to join Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke as the only players in franchise history with 20 blasts and 30 steals in a season.

2. The Brewers have registered a majors-best 2.74 ERA in September and allowed just eight homers in 13 games.

3. Pirates LHP Felipe Vazquez has converted 23 consecutive save opportunities, including four this month.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Pirates 3