Brewers at Pirates
The second half of the season figures to be a wild one in the National League Central. Two of the five teams in the division that are separated by just four games will try to carry some momentum into the All-Star break when the Milwaukee Brewers and host Pittsburgh Pirates finish a three-game series Sunday afternoon.
After dropping the series opener in 10 innings, the Pirates struck for four early runs and coasted to a 12-2 triumph Saturday. Rookie Kevin Newman continued to impress with a home run and a two-run single while Starling Marte and Colin Moran also delivered three RBIs apiece to lead the way for the Pirates, who enter the final contest before the break 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs and three in back of Milwaukee. The Brewers have lost four of their last five and also saw shortstop Orlando Arcia depart in the eighth inning following a collision with rookie second baseman Keston Hiura. They'll give the ball in the series finale to Chase Anderson while Joe Musgrove gets the nod for Pittsburgh.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.31 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (6-7, 4.13)
Anderson remained in pursuit of career win No. 50 after picking up a no-decision at Cincinnati on Tuesday. He allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in that outing, which was his longest since a six-inning, two-run effort against Pittsburgh on June 9. The University of Oklahoma product is 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 career starts versus the Pirates but has had loads of issues with Marte, who is 15-for-32 with six extra-base hits against Anderson.
Musgrove has allowed one run in 16 innings over his last three starts, although he was only able to go three frames before a lengthy rain delay ended his outing versus the Cubs on Tuesday. The 26-year-old surrendered five runs and a season-high 11 hits over six innings in his only prior matchup with the Brewers this year. He will be careful when facing Mike Moustakas, who has three home runs in just five at-bats versus Musgrove.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers recalled RHP Burch Smith from Triple-A San Antonio and designated RHP Deolis Guerra for assignment.
2. The Pirates placed LHP Steven Brault (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list and optioned RHP Dovydas Neverauskas to Triple-A Indianapolis. RHPs Montana DuRapau and Luis Escobar were both recalled from Indianapolis.
3. Newman went 4-for-5 on Saturday and has multiple hits in five of his last 10 games.