Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 8, Milwaukee 12

The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates have identical records and face similar predicaments as they open a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Both teams are 74-72 and are on the outside of the National League wild-card race with 16 games remaining in the regular season. Tied at 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card, both teams need to win the series and being swept would be devastating.

Milwaukee will be the more-rested squad after being off Monday but is beginning a rugged 10-game trip that also includes stops to play divisions leaders Washington and Cincinnati. Pittsburgh didn’t get home until the wee hours of Tuesday morning after beating the Chicago Cubs on Monday in a game that started 3 hours, 37 minutes late because of rain. The victory was only the second in 10 games for the Pirates. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo has won seven consecutive decisions. However, the Pirates touched Gallardo up for seven runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings on Sept. 2 in a game Milwaukee won 12-8.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (15-8, 3.72 ERA) vs. Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (15-7, 3.66)

Gallardo is 8-2 in 12 starts since the All-Star break. He beat the Atlanta Braves in his last outing when he gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings. Gallardo is 1-0 with a 6.17 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh this season and is 8-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 14 career appearances (13 starts) against the Pirates.

Burnett has lost three straight decisions. He fell to the Cincinnati Reds in his last outing despite giving up just two runs and five hits in six innings. Burnett received a no-decision against Milwaukee on Sept. 2 when he gave up two runs and two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He is 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA in two starts against the Brewers this season and has a 2-3 career mark and 5.23 ERA in eight starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee has won 20 of its last 26 games and has gone 8-4 against the Pirates this season.

2. Pittsburgh 3B Pedro Alvarez is 0-for-10 with six strikeouts against Gallardo and his next homer will make him only the third Pirates third baseman to hit 30 or more homers in a season.

3. Brewers OF Corey Hart (foot) has missed six straight starts and hopes to return during the Pittsburgh series.