Pirates at Brewers
Ryan Braun may not be performing at the MVP level he did seven years ago anymore, but his knack for delivering in clutch moments this season has certainly been reminiscent of such a decorated hitter. Still nursing a calf injury that has kept him out of the starting lineup the last two days, Braun hopes to lead the Brewers to their fifth win in six contests Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates for the rubber match of their three-game series.
Braun struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning but remained in the game and delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth to send Milwaukee to a 5-3 victory Saturday, giving the Brewers their seventh home win in eight tries. The six-time All-Star has made a habit of such theatrics in 2018, as Saturday's hit was his third of the game-winning variety after doing so twice in his team's first four contests of the season. Pittsburgh could muster only four hits in the setback, losing for only the third time in 12 tries against a National League Central opponent. Starling Marte has homered in each of the first two games of this series - including his first career inside-the-park home run in the opener - and driven in five of his team's nine runs so far this weekend.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (3-2, 5.01 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (3-2, 3.38)
Kuhl turned in his worst effort of the season in Tuesday's loss at Washington, giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits - all homers - and two walks over 4 2/3 innings. That performance came on the heels of two consecutive quality starts in which the Delaware native yielded a total of four runs while striking out 12 in as many frames. Orlando Arcia is 5-for-10 against Kuhl, who is 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in five starts versus the Brewers.
Anderson won for the third time in four turns despite issuing a season-high four free passes Tuesday in Cincinnati, permitting four runs on six hits while throwing 90 pitches in 5 1/3 frames. The 30-year-old Oklahoma product has struggled much more at home (1-1, 5.28 ERA) than on the road (2-1, 2.19), however, allowing opponents to bat .293 against him at Miller Park. Marte is 10-for-19 with a home run against Anderson, who is 6-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 starts versus the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marte's 12 home runs against Milwaukee are his most against any team.
2. The Brewers are 6-13 against opponents with winning records and 14-1 versus foes with losing marks.
3. Pittsburgh OF Corey Dickerson went 0-for-4 on Saturday to snap a 13-game on-base streak.