Brewers at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped eight of their final 12 games in May thanks in large part to a host of lackluster efforts from their pitching staff, and their first crack at turning things around in June didn't go any better. The Pirates hope one of their more effective starters this season can stop the bleeding Sunday when they send Jordan Lyles to the mound in an attempt to salvage a split of their four-game series at home with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Pittsburgh wrapped up last month by finishing third in the National League in batting average (.272) and fourth in runs (143), but that offensive energy was mostly wasted by the team's major-league worst 6.19 ERA. The Pirates overcame an early five-run deficit but failed to hold a late two-run lead before losing 12-10 in 13 innings Saturday, marking the seventh time in less than a month they have surrendered at least 10 runs. The Brewers pulled off the comeback by relying on the long ball, tying the game in the top of the ninth inning on rookie Keston Hiura's two-run blast before pulling ahead for good on Orlando Arcia's two-run shot four innings later. Milwaukee's five home runs Saturday increased the club's season total to 103 - 11 more than any other NL squad and the third-highest total in the majors.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (5-0, 2.19 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-2, 3.09)
Davies did not factor into the decision against Minnesota on Tuesday despite turning in perhaps his best start of the season, allowing five hits and walking two over six scoreless innings. The Arizona native has been very stingy in his six road outings, going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA while also recording 30 of his 42 strikeouts. Starling Marte is 6-for-13 with two doubles against Davies, who is 2-5 with a 5.98 ERA in nine starts versus the Pirates.
Lyles exited early Tuesday in Cincinnati with left hamstring discomfort, but took the loss and saw his three-start winning streak halted after permitting three runs across four innings. The former first-round pick tailed off over his final two May outings (1-1, 8.39 ERA) after winning two of his first three starts of the month while posting a 1.37 ERA. Yasmani Grandal (6-for-19, five RBIs) has fared well versus Lyles, who recorded a 3.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances as a member of the Brewers late last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers OF Christian Yelich ended a 1-for-14 slump over his previous four games Saturday, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, triple and four RBIs.
2. Pittsburgh C Elias Diaz has started 13 of the last 17 games behind the plate and is batting .393 with eight multi-hit efforts and 11 RBIs over that stretch.
3. Milwaukee 2B Mike Moustakas is 6-for-14 with three homers, five RBIs and five runs scored in this series.