Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) Milwaukee 0, Pittsburgh 4

Pittsburgh fell to Milwaukee in its 126th game of 2011, the team's 20th loss in 26 games that plunged the Pirates from a tie atop the National League Central into fourth place. Saturday, the Pirates ended a four-game losing streak in their 126th game of 2012, returning to 10 games above .500 and temporarily calming fears of a second-consecutive late-season swoon. The Pirates trail St. Louis by one game for the final NL wild-card spot. Milwaukee saw its four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday but has won six of its past 10.

The Brewers will start right-hander Mark Rogers, who earned his first major-league victory in his last start. Erik Bedard starts for Pittsburgh, looking to win for the third time in four August starts. Milwaukee hopes to settle its shaky closer situation. John Axford converted 46-of-48 save opportunities a year ago, but is 20-for-28 this season and was removed during a shaky ninth-inning on Friday.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Root Sports (Pittsburgh).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Milwaukee RH Mark Rogers (1-1, 5.02 ERA) vs. Pittsburgh LH Erik Bedard (7-13, 4.76).

Rogers makes his sixth start since being promoted from Triple-A Nashville, where he went 6-6 with a 4.72 ERA in 18 starts. Rogers struck out seven in five innings Monday to beat the Cubs. He has displayed good control so far, with nine walks and 31 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.

Bedard lost five of six starts from late June through the end of July, but is 2-1 in August with a 4.32 ERA in three starts. The left-hander allowed five earned runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings last Saturday at St. Louis. In his two victories this month, Bedard allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 12 innings to defeat Arizona and San Diego.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh OF Jose Tabata left Saturday’s game in the sixth inning with a groin injury.

2. Pittsburgh OF Andrew McCutchen leads the majors in hitting at .346, but is hitting just .197 (12-for-61) in his past 15 games.

3. Milwaukee hosts the Pirates next weekend.