Pirates vs Brewers Preview: Skenes Slated to Start Thursday
Division-Leading Brewers Host Pirates in Three-Game Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series starting Tuesday. The Milwaukee Brewers standings have Pittsburgh 9.5 games behind the Brewers and 4.0 games out in the wild card race. The Brewers have a comfortable lead in the division, but St. Louis is gaining ground and has moved within 4.5 games of first place. The Pirates have pushed Martin Perez and Paul Skenes back a day.
Perez will start Wednesday and Skenes should get the ball Thursday. That leaves Pittsburgh undecided on Tuesday’s pitcher, although Quinn Priester’s name has popped up on several sites. There are no such problems with Milwaukee, who will start Colin Rea. The Pirates vs Brewers preview shows Milwaukee -165 with a total of 8.5-under (-115).
Pittsburgh is scoring 4.1 runs per game, a little below the league average of 4.4 runs. The Pirates are No. 24 in team batting average and No. 18 in home runs, so they’re not hitting for power or average. Pittsburgh is No. 25 in on-base percentage, so it could be fortunate to score as much as it does based on the stats.
The Pirate pitching staff isn’t all that bad, ranking No. 13 in team ERA. The starters have fared better than the bullpen, which has an ERA of 4.51 and has blown 17 of 40 save attempts.
Milwaukee is averaging 4.8 runs per game and is No. 4 in team batting average and No. 2 in stolen bases. The Brewers aren’t hitting for much power and are tied for No. 15 in home runs, although that hasn’t slowed them down any.
Milwaukee’s biggest strength this season has been its relief pitching. The Brewers are No. 9 overall in team ERA and the bullpen is No. 3 with an ERA of 3.29. The team has converted 32 of 42 save opportunities.
Pirates vs Brewers 
📊Records: Pittsburgh Pirates (43-47), Milwaukee Brewers (53-38)
⏰Day/Time: 📍Location: American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI
📺Streaming: SportsNet PT
Tuesday’s Game
The MLB pitching matchups and odds have Rea as a good-sized favorite in this one and for good reason. He’s 8-2 with a 3.34 ERA and Milwaukee is 11-4 when he starts. The Brewers are 7-1 when he starts at home and 4-4 in totals. His lone home loss did come against Pittsburgh on May 13.
Pittsburgh is keeping their starter under wraps, but Priester makes sense. He pitched five innings for Pittsburgh’s AAA affiliate last Tuesday and was sharp. He pitched four innings before that in his first rehab start, so he’ll be limited in pitches thrown. Priester was 0-5 with a 4.83 ERA this season, but he probably pitched a little better than that. The Pirates lost all six games he started but scored a total of eight runs in six games.
It’s a bit surprising the line isn’t a bit higher here. The odds are still high, but not to the extent you would think. With Rea pitching well, the play in this one is going to be under 8.5.

Wednesday’s Game
The Pirates vs Brewers preview shows Perez and Tobias Myers are the scheduled starters for Wednesday. Perez is 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA for Pittsburgh in 13 starts. The Pirates are just 4-9 when Perez starts this season, although the Brewers don’t hit left-handers quite as well. Pittsburgh is 3-3 when Perez starts on the road, so he fared a little better there.
Myers is quietly having a pretty decent year for the Brewers as a rookie. He’s 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA, although Milwaukee is just 6-6 when he starts. The Brewers are 3-2 when Myers starts at home and 3-0-2 in totals when he pitches in Milwaukee. The Brewers will likely be decent-sized favorites in this one, although it’s easiest to make a case for the under.
Thursday’s Game
The Pirates vs Brewers preview has Skenes starting against Aaron Civale and the line here is going to be pretty close to even. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if the Pirates open as small favorites. Skenes has been everything Pittsburgh could have asked for. He’s 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings. Pittsburgh is 7-3 when he starts and 3-1 when he starts on the road.
Civale’s first outing with Milwaukee wasn’t his best effort, allowing four runs in five innings to the Dodgers. Civale allowed two solo home runs and a two-run shot in his time on the mound. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the same type of power as the Dodgers, but Civale needs better placement on his pitches. He’s struggled some ever since leaving Cleveland.
This is another game where there may not be as many runs as expected and take the under for one of your MLB best bets today.
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