Series Preview: Pirates at Brewers

Scorers of seven runs over their last seven games, the Pirates (63-65) head to Miller Park to face the Brewers. What could go wrong?

Milwaukee is in a virtual tie with the Rockies for the National League’s second wild-card spot, and half a game back of the surging Cardinals for the first wild card. The Brewers are 3 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central.

The Brewers took two of three from the Reds at home this week.

Season Series: 8-2 Pirates

At Milwaukee

May 4: Pirates 6, Brewers 4

May 5: Brewers 5, Pirates 3

May 6: Pirates 9, Brewers 0

At Pittsburgh

June 18: Pirates 1, Brewers 0

June 19: Brewers 3, Pirates 2

At Pittsburgh

July 12: Pirates 6, Brewers 3

July 13: Pirates 7, Brewers 3

July 14, Game 1: Pirates 2, Brewers 1

July 14, Game 2: Pirates 6, Brewers 2

July 15: Pirates 7, Brewers 6, 10 innings

Schedule

Friday, 8:10 p.m. — Joe Musgrove (5-7, 3.31 ERA) vs. Wade Miley (2-2, 2.18); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Saturday, 7:10 p.m. — Jameson Taillon (9-9, 3.58) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (13-4, 3.58); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Sunday, 2:10 p.m. — Chris Archer (4-6, 4.41) vs. Chase Anderson (8-7, 3.92); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Brewers

71-58 (67-62 Pythag, 4.39 RS/G, 4.18 RA/G)

Offense

The Brewers acquired Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop at the trade deadline, loading up on offense in an infield that doesn’t always make defensive sense. They’re frequently playing Schoop, a natural second baseman, at shortstop; Travis Shaw, a natural third baseman, at second; and Moustakas, a third baseman, at, well, third. It’s bold, and I kinda like it. Real, live shortstop Orlando Arcia appears to be splitting time with Schoop, giving Milwaukee some semblance of order in the infield about half the time.

Lorenzo Cain (.307/.398/.424, 9 HR) ranks fifth among NL position players with 4.7 fWAR. Christian Yelich (.314/.378/.532, 21 HR) sits eighth, at 4.1. A productive offseason for the Crew, I’d say.

Jesus Aguilar (29 HR) and Shaw (26) have also mashed the ball.

Pitching

Once-electric, Corey Knebel was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs this week. Starter Zach Davies was optioned as well. Despite the issues from Knebel (28 percent HR/FB), the Brewers bullpen ranks second-best in the NL and seventh in the majors by fWAR (4.5). Josh Hader (15.99 K/9, 3.38 BB/9) and the resurgent Jeremy Jeffress (10.03 K/9, 2.95 BB/9) are sharing late-inning duties.

Milwaukee’s patchwork rotation is chugging along just fine. The Pirates will miss rookie Freddy Peralta this weekend.

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