The Milwaukee Brewers will enter this weekend with a chance to control their own destiny in the NL Central.
Last weekend was a disaster for them after getting swept by the Oakland Athletics, but this weekend. They will host rivals Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game set at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
NL Central Foes Collide This Weekend: Brewers vs. Pirates
Entering this series, Pittsburgh has a 34-33 record and currently holds the third seed in the NL. Milwaukee has a 34-34 record and is currently 0.5 games back of the Pirates for the NL Central lead. Currently, the Milwaukee Brewers would be on the outside looking in, and the Pittsburgh Pirates would be in the postseason.
This weekend can go a long way in deciding the NL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers have to be careful because the Cincinnati Reds have a 34-35 record and are just 0.5 games back of Milwaukee and one game back of Pittsburgh for the division lead. It is a three-team race in a very bad NL Central Division for potentially one playoff spot.
For this weekend, the pitching matchups will feature Rich Hill (6-5, 4.23 ERA, 67K) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Julio Teheran (1-2 record, 1.48 ERA, 16K) for the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, Pittsburgh will send Mitch Keller (8-2 record, 3.41 ERA, 101K) to the mound, and Milwaukee will counter with Wade Miley (3-2 record, 3.67 ERA, 24K). On Sunday afternoon, the Pirates will opt for Luis L. Ortiz (1-3 record, 4.64 ERA, 20K), as the Brewers send Freddy Peralta (5-6 record, 4.73 ERA, 75 K).
The Milwaukee Brewers are at a major disadvantage in the starting pitching matchup. They need to take two out of three in this series and can’t afford to lose this series to the Pittsburgh Pirates at home. It feels like Milwaukee needs a season-changing series win right here to get back on track.
Pittsburgh Pirates Stats
Center Fielder Jack Suwinski has played in 58 games this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has a .243 batting average with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs. In addition, he has six stolen bases.
Designated hitter Andrew McCutchen has played in 59 games so far this season for Pittsburgh. He has a .266 batting average with nine home runs and 24 RBIs, along with seven stolen bases. McCutchen has been a vocal clubhouse leader for this NL Central team.
Left fielder Bryan Reynolds has played in 64 games so far this season for the Pirates. He has a .282 batting average with seven home runs and 38 RBIs, along with eight stolen bases. Reynolds is one of the best batters on this baseball team.
Milwaukee Brewers Stats
First baseman Rowdy Tellez has played in 63 games so far this season for the Milwaukee Brewers. He has a .231 batting average with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Tellez is a power hitter.
Shortstop Willy Adames has played in 58 games so far this season for Milwaukee. He has a .204 batting average with 10 home runs, 28 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
Third baseman Brian Anderson has played in 66 games so far this season for the Brewers. He has a .231 batting average with nine home runs and 31 RBIs. Anderson has been one of their more consistent players so far this season, carrying this team in the NL Central standings.
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