Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 1, Milwaukee 10

In just a matter of weeks, the Milwaukee Brewers have gone from the brink of playoff elimination to the team nobody wants to face in the postseason. Milwaukee has gone 16-4 this month and looks to continue its hot streak on Sunday in the finale of a three-games series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost eight in a row.

Keston Hiura and Trent Grisham each hit a two-run homer in Saturday’s 10-1 victory as the Brewers extended their lead over the Chicago Cubs for the second National League wild-card spot to three games. Hiura is riding a six-game hitting streak for Milwaukee, which has won seven of its last eight games and sits one behind Washington for the top wild card. The Brewers are 14-4 this season against Pittsburgh, which has lost 90 games for the first time since 2011. One of the few bright spots for the Pirates has been the play of first baseman Jose Osuna, who recorded two hits on Saturday and is 13-for-40 over his last 10 contests.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (7-7, 5.59 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Brandon Woodruff (11-3, 3.69)

Williams is looking to bounce back from a dismal outing last Sunday, when he allowed seven runs over 2 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cubs. The 27-year-old Californian is 5-6 with a 7.12 ERA in 15 starts since returning from the injured list on June 19. Ryan Braun is just 2-for-12 against Williams, who is 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA in seven career games (six starts) versus Milwaukee – including 1-0 with a 2.45 mark in three games (two starts) at Miller Park.

Woodruff landed on the injured list in late July with a strained left oblique but made an encouraging return last Tuesday, striking out four batters across two scoreless frames against San Diego. The 26-year-old native of Mississippi was having a stellar season before the injury, posting a 3.75 ERA over his first 20 starts. Woodruff is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in six career games (four starts) versus Pittsburgh and has limited Josh Bell to a pair of hits in 14 at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Pirates have been out-homered 21-1 over the last eight games.

2. Milwaukee is 9-2 since losing reigning MVP Christian Yelich to a fractured kneecap.

3. Pittsburgh C Elias Diaz left Saturday’s game with a right knee injury and is listed as day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Brewers 8, Pirates 3