Brewers at Pirates
While a 10-game homestand in mid-June isn't likely to define the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2018 season, the club at least needed to put together a good showing in order to remain relevant in the National League Central. The Pirates have done that so far and will attempt to move to 4-1 in their last five games in Pittsburgh on Tuesday when they continue a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers.
After holding a one-half game lead in the Central as recently as May 17, the Pirates dropped 18 of their next 24 to fall as many as eight games behind the Brewers before putting together a three-game winning streak - two of the victories coming at home against Cincinnati over the weekend. Pittsburgh moved within six games of Milwaukee in Monday's 1-0 series-opening victory, as Trevor Williams and two relievers tossed a two-hit shutout to beat the Brewers for the third time in four meetings this season. The Pirates' well-timed surge has dovetailed with the recent struggles of Milwaukee, which fell into a virtual first-place tie with the Chicago Cubs after suffering its third straight setback. Dating back to the start of last season, the Brewers have won only three of their 11 games in Pittsburgh.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Freddy Peralta (1-0, 3.72 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (4-5, 3.94)
Peralta will make his first big-league start since settling for a no-decision May 19 at Minnesota, giving up four runs on three hits and six walks in only four frames. The outing was a stark contrast to his major-league debut six days earlier, as the 22-year-old allowed one hit and fanned 13 over 5 2/3 innings in a win at Colorado. Peralta has been sharp in five minor-league turns at Triple-A Colorado Springs since his demotion, going 1-0 with a 1.48 ERA while striking out 38 over 24 1/3 frames.
Taillon rebounded from his first loss at home since April 25 with seven strong innings in a win at Arizona on Wednesday, permitting two runs on six hits while walking a pair and fanning four. The Florida native has produced three quality starts in his last four turns, going 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 26 1/3 frames over that span. Hernan Perez is 6-for-15 with three homers and eight RBIs versus Taillon, who yielded one run over five innings in a no-decision at Milwaukee on May 5.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Pirates have blanked the Brewers in each of their last two meetings.
2. Milwaukee OF Christian Yelich is batting .382 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs in his team's wins and .143 with no homers and three RBIs in its losses.
3. With Monday's victory, the Pirates improved to 9-2 in one-run games at home.