Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2012 ) Milwaukee 6, Pittsburgh 0
While the Milwaukee Brewers are clicking on all cylinders, the Pittsburgh Pirates seem to have run out of gas. The National League Central rivals continued on their respective paths during Tuesday's series opener as Milwaukee benefited from seven stolen bases to record its 21st win in 27 outings with a 6-0 triumph. Pittsburgh, which has dropped nine of its last 11, will look to shift gears when the teams reconvene at PNC Park on Wednesday.
The Brewers lead the majors in steals with 142 while the Pirates have only thrown out 14 of 151 attempts. Success on the bases has allowed Milwaukee to move just 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card. Pittsburgh, which sits 3 1/2 games back, has lost six of seven to the Brewers in the last month.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSWI (Milwaukee), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (3-6, 3.77 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Kyle McPherson (0-0, 1.54)
Estrada struck out 10 and yielded just one run on four hits, but settled for a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Sept. 1. The 29-year-old has won both career decisions versus the Pirates. In his last outing, Estrada scattered four hits over 6 2/3 sizzling innings in a 5-0 triumph over Atlanta on Sept. 11.
McPherson, who will make his first career start on Wednesday, has faced the Brewers already this season. The 24-year-old yielded one run and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings in a no-decision on Aug. 31. McPherson issued two walks in that contest - his only ones in 11 2/3 innings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Ryan Braun collected his 104th RBI with a run-scoring single in the seventh inning. The reigning NL MVP has four multi-hit games in his last five contests.
2. Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, who went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, is just 3-for-21 against Milwaukee pitching this season. McCutchen has also struggled versus Estrada, going 3-for-13 in his career with four strikeouts.
3. Milwaukee's Corey Hart missed his seventh consecutive start due to torn tissue along the left arch in his foot.