Series Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers

This was a part of the shortened season where the Brewers figured to build momentum before heading into a month they’ve owned for the past couple years.

Instead, the Brewers head into the second half of their season at a disappointing 13-17, a mark which last weekend’s sweep at the hands of the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park has a lot to do with.

The Brewers have another chance to build some momentum against the Pirates this weekend, this time at home for their only series against the Pirates at Miller Park. This will also be the last time the Brewers face Pittsbugh this year, which oddly may be a good thing considering the headaches and frustration they’ve caused to this point.

The Pirates are 4-2 against the Brewers this year, meaning almost half of their wins this year have come against the Cream City Opposite-of-Crushers. They’re coming off a doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals on Thursday, beating the Red Birds 4-3 and 2-0.

Much of what we covered last week still applies — the Pirates have generally been a team with a bad lineup and bad pitching, but neither looked to be the case last weekend against Milwaukee.

The Brewers may be getting a break, though, with Colin Moran — who has killed them this year — recently landed on the concussion Injured List.

Pitchers, Probably

Friday, August 28th - 7:10 p.m. CDT
Derek Holland vs. Corbin Burnes

Saturday, August 29th - 6:10 p.m. CDT
JT Brubaker vs. Brett Anderson

Sunday, August 30th - 1:10 p.m. CDT
Steven Brault vs. Brandon Woodruff

Monday, August 31st - 6:40 p.m. CDT
Trevor Williams vs. Adrian Houser

Holland came into his last start against the Brewers with a 7.36 ERA with most of the damage coming in a single bad start against Detroit in which he was left out on the mound to die, throwing 112 pitches over 5 innings while allowing 9 runs on 13 hits — including 5 home runs. He rebounded with 2 scoreless innings in a piggyback appearance against Cleveland before holding the Brewers to just 1 run — on a solo home run by Jedd Gyorko — over 5 innings.

Brubaker went 4 innings against the Brewers in what’s been his longest appearance of the year yet, throwing 76 pitches after starting the year as a multi-inning reliever. The 26-year-old rookie set a career high with 6 strikeouts over those 4 innings.

Brault will be making his second start of the year against the Brewers, the first being a 2-inning outing on July 27th before the extended rain delay that night cut his start short. His last outing was Tuesday, giving up 4 innings in 3 hittings on 5 hits and 4 walks against the White Sox. The lefty has had more success against the Brewers than most other teams, with a 3.82 ERA against them in 61.1 career innings.

Williams was having a solid start to his season before he gave up 8 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings against the White Sox on Wednesday, sending his ERA from 3.70 to 5.34. Before that point, he had not allowed more than 3 runs in any outing.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference