Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2011 ) Milwaukee 11, Pittsburgh 4

THE STORY: The Milwaukee Brewers look to continue their domination of the Pirates when the teams wrap up a four-game series at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Brewers have won 14 of 15 against the Pirates following Tuesday’s 11-4 victory, and 45 of 56 since 2008. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they won’t be done with the Brewers after this series. Pittsburgh visits Milwaukee in late September. The Pirates have dropped five of their last seven games overall, and their chances of posting a winning season for the first time since 1992 are quickly diminishing. Meanwhile, the Brewers are on cruise control with a 10-game lead over St. Louis in the National League Central.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), WMLW 41 (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Shaun Marcum (11-3, 3.40 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Aaron Thompson (NR)

Marcum has been outstanding in consecutive starts, allowing two earned runs over 14 2/3 innings. One of those starts came Aug. 14 against Pittsburgh when he scattered five hits over 7 2/3 innings. Batters are hitting .227 against him. Thompson will make his major league debut and is expected to be limited to 55 pitches. He was 5-7 with a 4.63 ERA in 31 games (14 starts) with Double A Altoona and Triple A Indianapolis.

ABOUT THE PIRATES (60-68): All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen is having a miserable time against the Brewers. He is 6-for-55 (.109) in his last 16 games against Milwaukee. Pittsburgh ranks 25th or lower in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. But one bright spot Tuesday was Josh Harrison, who hit his first major-league homer.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (78-53): Righthander Marco Estrada made what likely was his final spot start Tuesday, allowing two runs over seven innings. With Chris Narveson back from the disabled list and off days ahead, Estrada seems headed back to the bullpen. Nyjer Morgan is 5-for-9 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored over the last two games. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy is 6-for-15 with two doubles over his last four games. The Brewers rank third in the NL with 141 home runs and second in slugging percentage (.416). Six Brewers have reached double-digit homers after Casey McGehee launched his 10th in Tuesday’s 11-4 victory. The others are Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart and Yuniesky Betancourt.

FINAL PITCH: Fielder, Braun and Morgan grace the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated. It is the first time since 1987 that the magazine has featured an all-Brewers cover.