Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 1, Milwaukee 4

Pittsburgh hopes to halt what Pirates fans fear is a second consecutive late-season slide from playoff contention. Losers of three in a row and seven of their past 10, the Pirates now trail St. Louis by one game for the second and final National League wild card spot. Pittsburgh stumbled badly in the final two months of 2011 after contending for its first postseason berth since 1992. The Brewers have long turned their sights toward 2013, but have won three in a row and five of their past seven.

Milwaukee finished a seven-game homestand at 5-2, splitting a four-game set with Philadelphia before sweeping the Cubs. The Brewers are 10-10 in August after playing sub-.500 ball in each of the season’s first four months. Mike Fiers looks to end a two-start losing streak when he takes the mound for the Brewers in the series opener. Wandy Rodriguez, who earned his first win with Pittsburgh with two innings of relief in a 19-inning victory Sunday at St. Louis, starts for the Pirates. Pittsburgh comes in after being swept at San Diego and has dropped 11 of its past 16.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Root Sports (Pittsburgh).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Milwaukee RH Mike Fiers (6-6, 2.90 ERA) vs. Pittsburgh LH Wandy Rodriguez (8-12, 4.00).

Fiers has provided a pleasant boost to the Brewers’ rotation. The 27-year-old retired the first 18 hitters in a dominant eight-inning performance Aug. 7 against Cincinnati, but struggled in his subsequent two starts, allowing 12 earned runs on 14 hits in seven innings. Right-handers are hitting just .208 against Fiers.

Acquired from Houston to bolster the Pirates’ rotation for the stretch run, Rodriguez has posted a 5.06 ERA and lost three of his four Pittsburgh starts. Pressed into relief duty in Sunday’s marathon game against the Cardinals, Rodriguez struck out three and allowed one hit in two innings, getting the victory when Pittsburgh scored in the 19th. He beat the Brewers while with Houston on July 7.

WALK-OFFS

1. The two teams have played about as even as possible through their first six matchups this season. Milwaukee and Pittsburgh have split those six games, with the Brewers outscoring the Pirates 30-29.

2. The Brewers have dominated the series in recent seasons, beating Pittsburgh 61 times in 84 matchups dating back to 2007.

3. Milwaukee OF Ryan Braun loves hitting at PNC Park. The Brewers’ slugger carries a .297 career average at Pittsburgh’s home into Friday, with eight homers and 36 RBI in 36 games.