Series Preview: Pirates at Brewers

On the tails of a five-game winning streak, the Pirates (72-73) didn’t quite take to the spoiler role, losing two of three in St. Louis during the week. They’ll get another shot this weekend, visiting the National League Wild Card-leading Brewers (84-63).

Milwaukee trails the Cubs by just a game and-a-half in the NL Central, and it stands three games ahead of the Cardinals for home-field advantage in the Wild Card game.

The Brewers are 8-3 in September and have won 11 of their last 14. They won two of three over the Cubs at Wrigley Field this week.

Already having brought in a haul before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Brewers had a busy waiver-trade deadline, bringing in Gio Gonzalez from the Nationals and Curtis Granderson from the Blue Jays.

Corey Knebel had a brief demotion to Triple-A, but has returned to the back of the Milwaukee bullpen. He’s listed, with Jeremy Jeffress and Josh Hader, as a closer, and guys like Joakim Soria, Corbin Burnes and Dan Jennings give the Brewers a deep, formidable relief corps.

Season Series: 9-4 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

At Milwaukee

August 24: Brewers 7, Pirates 6, 15 innings

August 25: Pirates 9, Brewers 1

August 26: Brewers 7, Pirates 4

Schedule

Friday, 8:10 p.m. — Chris Archer (4-7, 4.56 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez (8-11, 4.40); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Saturday, 7:10 p.m. — Ivan Nova (8-9, 4.17) vs. Zach Davies (2-5, 4.75); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Sunday, 2:10 p.m. — Trevor Williams (12-9, 3.28) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (14-7, 3.54); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Links

• The Brewers are now challenging the Cubs for the division title.
• Corbin Burnes can spin the thing, and he’s been excellent.
• Gio Gonzalez is fitting right in with the Brewers.