Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2019 ) Milwaukee 8, Pittsburgh 3

With some ground to make up in the National League Central and a division rival refusing to go away in the wild-card chase, the Milwaukee Brewers could use a bit of help from the schedule to give themselves a bit of margin for error. The Brewers could very well get that beginning Friday, as they seek a fourth straight win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of their three-game set.

Milwaukee has been among the hottest teams in the majors over the last two weeks, going 12-2 over its last 14 games while winning each of their last four series to close within three games of division-leading St. Louis and move one game ahead of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card following Thursday's 5-1 victory against San Diego. The Brewers have reason to be optimistic they will continue to their strong playoff push this weekend, as they have defeated Pittsburgh in 12 of their 16 meetings in 2019 - including a 5-1 mark at home. Also working in Milwaukee's favor is the Pirates' dismal play during the second half of the season, during which the club is 21-43. Pittsburgh suffered its sixth straight loss Thursday, falling 6-5 in 11 innings against Seattle.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Steven Brault (4-5, 4.98 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (6-4, 4.50)

Brault has watched his ERA increase by a full run since beating Colorado on Sept. 1, giving up a total of 16 runs (15 earned) across eight innings over his last two outings. The 27-year-old was pounded for 10 runs - including five homers - in last Friday's loss to the Cubs and the home run total was half the number he allowed over his first 22 appearances (16 starts). Brault owns a 2.66 ERA in four turns against the Brewers this season, although he did not factor into the decision in any of them.

Milwaukee continues to keep a close eye on Anderson's workload, as he has pitched exactly four innings in each of his last four starts and thrown between 59 and 68 pitches in all of them. The University of Oklahoma product was sharp in his last outing, yielding only a solo homer and two walks while matching a season high with six strikeouts against St. Louis. Josh Bell (3-for-21) has struggled while Kevin Newman (3-for-5) has thrived versus Anderson, who is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in four starts against Pittsburgh in 2019.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers have won 34 of their last 45 regular-season contests in September and October over the last two seasons.

2. Pittsburgh has not hit a home run in six straight games - a span of 58 innings.

3. Milwaukee OF Lorenzo Cain homered for the second time in three contests Thursday before leaving with an ankle injury. He is considered day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Pirates 2