Pirates at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers typically haven't had much of a problem winning when Brandon Woodruff takes the mound, but it's been much more of a struggle when any other starting pitcher goes about his business. The Brewers attempt to do their part to pull into a tie atop the National League Central and will also try to win the three-game series with Pittsburgh on Sunday when they host the Pirates.
Milwaukee moved to 14-3 in games started by Woodruff this year following Saturday's 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh, keeping the club within one game of the Chicago Cubs for the division lead. The Brewers experienced similar success with Zach Davies through the early part of June, but have dropped his last three turns to fall to 30-36 in games in which Woodruff does not pitch. The Pirates, who are batting a major-league best .290 in June, were held to six hits Saturday while suffering only their second loss in the last nine contests. Pittsburgh shortstop Kevin Newman finished with a double and a single to extend his hitting streak to 19 games - the best run by a rookie in club history and the longest hitting streak in the majors this season.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Wisconsin, WYTU (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Steven Brault (3-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zach Davies (7-2, 3.34)
Brault has walked 27 in only 52 frames and continued to struggle with his control in last Sunday's no-decision against San Diego, issuing three free passes for the third time in four turns this month to go along with six hits over five innings. Despite those issues, the 27-year-old owns a 2-0 record and 3.67 ERA in seven starts. Christian Yelich is 3-for-7 with a solo homer against Brault, who allowed two runs across a career-high 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Milwaukee on June 9.
After opening the season by going 7-0 with a 2.41 ERA over his first 13 starts, Davies fell to 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA over his last three outings after yielding six runs (four earned) over four innings in a loss to Seattle on Tuesday. Home runs have plagued the Arizona native lately, as he has given up four of his 11 for the season during his winless spell. Starling Marte (8-for-20) and Adam Frazier (7-for-15) have tormented Davies, who beat Pittsburgh in consecutive starts to begin June.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers 2B Mike Moustakas went 0-for-4 on Saturday to halt his on-base streak at 21 games.
2. Newman is batting .384 with 12 runs, six doubles, a triple, four home runs and 15 RBIs during his hitting streak.
3. Milwaukee 1B Eric Thames, who connected on a solo shot and run-scoring triple Saturday, is 11-for-24 with four homers and nine RBIs in seven games versus Pittsburgh this season.