Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 5
Is it a surprise that Friday night's matchup between the first- and fourth-place teams in the National League Central features the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Milwaukee Brewers? More like a shock when the division leader is the Pirates, who are 11 games over .500 for the first time since 1992 - the last year the franchise had a winning season. Pittsburgh owns the best home record in the majors, but will play 16 of its next 22 games on the road.
While the Pirates surged into the All-Star break by winning six of seven, Milwaukee has won six of nine and sits eight games back of Pittsburgh. Zack Greinke will make history when he becomes the first pitcher in 95 years to start three straight games in one season. Greinke was ejected after only four pitches last Saturday and came back to start the following day. He can also become only the third pitcher to win his first 16 decisions with one club.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FS Wisconsin
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH James McDonald (9-3, 2.27 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zack Greinke (9-3, 3.32)
Greinke has made only two of his last 10 starts at Miller Park, where he is 15-0 in the regular season since joining the team prior to the 2011 season. The subject of trade rumors since he will become a free agent after the season, Greinke is 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA in four home starts this year. He is 4-1 with a 5.17 ERA in five career starts vs. Pittsburgh. He lasted only three innings vs. Houston on Sunday.
McDonald has won four consecutive starts and is coming off a sensational effort last time out, striking out 10 and allowing one run on four hits in seven innings against San Francisco. McDonald, who has already matched his career high in wins from a year ago, beat the Brewers in Milwaukee on June 3, allowing three runs (one earned) and striking out eight in six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Milwaukee is 21-1 in Greinke's last 22 regular-season starts at home.
2. Pirates All-Star CF Andrew McCutchen is batting .553 (21-for-38) with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine games.
3. Greinke is bidding to join Johnny Allen (Yankees, 1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (White Sox, 1980-82) as the only pitchers to win their first 16 decisions with a club. The only other pitcher to make three straight starts was Red Faber for the White Sox in 1917.