Brewers at Pirates
Josh Bell has two more chances to set a club record for the most home runs in the month of May, the first of which takes place Thursday in the opener of a four-game series with the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Bell tied Jason Bay's 2006 mark with his 12th blast this month, a three-run shot that propelled the Pirates to a 7-2 win at Cincinnati on Wednesday.
"It's been one of the most special starts I've seen in all the years I've been at the major league level, and I've seen some really good players," manager Clint Hurdle told reporters of Bell, who also had two singles to raise his average to .345. The victory allowed Pittsburgh to split a four-game set with the Reds, but the club has dropped six of its last seven at home. The Pirates start the series with Joe Musgrove on the mound opposite Chase Anderson for the Brewers. Milwaukee entered Wednesday's action a half-game out of first place in the National League Central after dropping a 5-3 decision at Minnesota on Tuesday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (2-0, 3.25 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (3-5, 4.27)
Anderson has failed to get through five innings in each of his last three starts, giving up three runs over four frames in a no-decision against Philadelphia on Friday. However, he has a solid 2.55 ERA while holding opponents to a .215 average as a starter this year. The University of Oklahoma product, who is 7-4 lifetime versus Pittsburgh, has struggled against Starling Marte (13-for-27, two homers) and Adam Frazier (5-for-15, two homers).
Musgrove has allowed three earned runs over 13 1/3 innings in his two wins this month and 19 earned runs across 10 2/3 frames in his three losses as inconsistencies have cropped up. He was pounded for six runs and a season-high 10 hits in five innings of a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers his last time out. Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich has four hits - including a home run - in nine career at-bats against Musgrove, who has a 6.94 ERA in two previous matchups with the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yelich is 5-for-29 over his last eight games to see his average drop from .342 to .314.
2. Pirates LF Bryan Reynolds is 11-for-28 with eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Pittsburgh has won nine of the last 12 meetings at home.