Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2013 ) Milwaukee 7, Pittsburgh 6

The Pittsburgh Pirates are enduring a rough stretch and hope new acquisitions Marlon Byrd and John Buck can provide a spark in Wednesday’s contest against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Pittsburgh lost Tuesday’s series opener, its 11th defeat in 17 games, and has slipped 1 1/2 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. Byrd and Buck were obtained from the New York Mets prior to the contest for minor-leaguer Dilson Herrera and a player to be named.

Byrd was batting .285 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs for New York and will move right into the starting lineup with outfielder Starling Marte (hand) sidelined for at least another two weeks, while Buck (15 homers) will spell starting catcher Russell Martin. Pedro Alvarez hit his NL-leading 32nd homer during a 4-for-4 performance on Tuesday but was unable to prevent the Pirates from suffering their third straight defeat. Milwaukee's Aramis Ramirez had a superb contest, going 4-for-5 with the 350th homer of this career and four RBIs.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Tom Gorzelanny (3-5, 3.60 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (5-3, 3.42)

Gorzelanny had a 2.51 ERA before two consecutive bad outings raised the figure by more than a run. He gave up 12 runs and 16 hits – including four homers – over 8 1/3 innings in the rough starts against Cincinnati and St. Louis. Gorzelanny is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in nine career outings (five starts) versus the Pirates.

Morton is 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA over his last four starts and gave up one run and seven hits while beating San Francisco in his last turn. He pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings against the Giants, his longest stint since the 2011 campaign. Morton never has beaten the Brewers, losing all four decisions and compiling a 6.25 ERA in seven career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee LF Khris Davis went 0-for-5 on Tuesday to snap an 11-game hitting streak.

2. Pittsburgh CF Andrew McCutchen is 5-for-13 against Gorzelanny.

3. Brewers RF Norichika Aoki reached base five times in the series opener on two singles and three walks.

PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Brewers 4