
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to conclude their stretch of consecutive NL Central opponents this week, as they’ll visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games to begin a nine-game road trip. The Crew has faced the Cubs for seven games and the Reds for six games over the last two weeks, going 8-5 over the stretch to clinch a playoff spot and all but put the NL Central away. On the other side, the Pirates have been playing well and are back to .500 on the season, as they won five consecutive series before dropping two of three to the Cubs over the weekend. Pittsburgh currently has the edge in the season series at 6-4, including a three-game sweep in their only series at PNC Park.
All of Milwaukee’s current injuries are on the mound, as they’re without relievers Rob Zastryzny (on rehab assignment), Grant Anderson (mid to late September), Bryse Wilson (mid-September), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). Starters Quinn Priester (out for season) and Brandon Woodruff (may return for postseason) are also shelved.
The Pirates just lost slugger Esmerlyn Valdez, who exited over the weekend with a hamstring strain that’s expected to keep him out the rest of the season. Catcher/first baseman Endy Rodríguez is also done for the year, as is right-hander Mitch Keller. Pitchers Kirby Yates, Braxton Ashcraft, and Isaac Mattson are all listed as late September returns after going on the IL in the last couple of weeks.
Jake Bauers leads the Brewer offense with 26 homers in what has been a career-year for him. Jackson Chourio is also raking, with 23 homers, 17 steals, and a .292 batting average, while Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Garrett Mitchell are also coming off a solid homestand. Joey Ortiz continues to surprise after a very rough first two months of the season, and Christian Yelich, Gary Sánchez, Andrew Vaughn, Sal Frelick, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and David Hamilton have all contributed at various points this season. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .259/.341/.406 (.747 OPS ranks fourth), with 146 homers (28th), 778 runs scored (second), and 144 steals (fifth).
Brandon Lowe leads Pittsburgh with 29 homers and 85 RBIs this year, adding 28 doubles. Oneil Cruz and Ryan O’Hearn both have 18 homers, and Cruz is closing in on 30 steals with 27 thus far. Bryan Reynolds also has 17 homers and a team-high 36 doubles. Henry Davis starts behind the plate, with Rafael Flores Jr. sharing duties, while Spencer Horwtiz, Nick Gonzales, rookie Konnor Griffin, Jared Triolo, and Jake Mangum are among the other regulars. Ronny Simon, Billy Cook, and Jacob Gonzalez round out the squad. As a team, the Pirates are hitting .253/.330/.401 (.731 OPS ranks seventh), with 170 homers (17th), 718 runs scored (fifth), and 126 steals (eighth).
Milwaukee’s bullpen is led by Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Aaron Ashby, with Chad Patrick and DL Hall also taking some of the medium- to high-leverage innings. JoJo Romero has been good, not great, while Antonio Senzatela has been not so good, and Garrett Stallings, who was called up again last weekend, has yet to allow a run in 11 major league innings. Kyle Harrison has also seemingly been moved to the bullpen, though he’s been roughed up in the worst way over his last few appearances. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.57 team ERA (second), including a 3.63 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.50 bullpen ERA (fifth). They’ve struck out 1,433 batters (second) over 1,339 2/3 innings.
Mason Montgomery has seemingly taken over the closer role for Pittsburgh, as he now has 13 saves and a 2.73 ERA over 62 2/3 innings. Yohan Ramírez, Gregory Soto (who still leads the team with 14 saves), and Luke Weaver also play key roles. Camilo Doval, Wilber Dotel, and Brandon Eisert fit somewhere in the middle, while Lake Bachar has been one of the better deadline pickups with a 2.61 ERA over 20 2/3 innings in 10 appearances (five “starts”). Speaking of “starts,” after the injury to Ashcraft, the Pirates don’t really have a clear five-man rotation — instead, Khristian Curtis and Carmen Mlodzinski have functioned more as innings eaters than typical one-inning relievers. Antwone Kelly rounds out the group. As a staff, the Pirates have a 4.18 ERA (15th), including a 4.23 starter ERA (17th) and a 4.11 bullpen ERA (17th). They’ve struck out 1,369 batters (fifth) over 1,338 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, September 15 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (14-5, 1.95 ERA, 2.24 FIP) vs. TBD
Misiorowski is looking to close out his NL Cy Young candidacy with at least two (likely three) more outings over the next two weeks. Through 27 starts this year, Miz is 14-5 with a 1.95 ERA, 2.24 FIP, and 236 strikeouts over 161 1/3 innings. He went 6 1/3 innings against the Cubs in his last outing, allowing one run on four hits and two walks, striking out nine as the Brewers would go on to win in extra innings. Misiorowski has made three career starts against Pittsburgh, going 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 18 frames. That includes a six-inning no-decision with three runs allowed and nine strikeouts back in April of this season.
With Ashcraft and Keller both shelved and no other clear starters, the Pirates have been deploying Lake Bachar as an opener with some combination of Khristian Curtis and Carmen Mlodzinski eating most of the innings. Assuming Bachar gets the start here, I’d expect Curtis and/or Mlodzinski to pitch in relief, with the other likely to start in Thursday’s series finale.
Wednesday, September 16 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.34 ERA, 3.17 FIP) vs. RHP Jared Jones (4-6, 4.10 ERA, 3.71 FIP)
Henderson continues to turn in strong results in his first full season. He’s made 16 starts this year, with a 10-3 record, 2.34 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 99 strikeouts across 88 1/3 innings, and he’s allowed three or fewer runs in all 16 appearances. He went five innings against the Cubs his last time out, allowing just an unearned run on two hits and a walk, striking out six to pick up the win. Henderson has made two starts against the Pirates, totaling 11 innings with a 2.45 ERA and 14 strikeouts. That includes a win in early August, when he went six frames with two runs allowed and eight strikeouts.
Jones, 25, has great stuff on the mound but hasn’t quite been able to put it together yet. He’s made 18 starts this year, with a 4.10 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 100 strikeouts over 85 2/3 innings. He’s coming off back-to-back great starts, though, as he’s earned the win in both games, totaling 13 innings with no runs allowed on four hits and three walks, striking out 17 against the Angels and White Sox. Jones is 1-1 in two starts against Milwaukee, as he allowed one run and struck out seven over six innings in 2024 but took the loss in August of this year (in the same game that Henderson won), allowing three runs and striking out four over four innings.
Thursday, September 17 @ 11:35 a.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.49 ERA, 3.43 FIP) vs. TBD
May is coming off one of his better starts since joining the Brewers, as he went six strong innings, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk while striking out six in Milwaukee’s 20-0 blowout victory over the Reds. Across seven starts with Milwaukee, he’s now 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA, 4.47 FIP, and 27 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings. May picked up a win against Pittsburgh in his Brewers’ debut back in early August, going six innings with two runs allowed and five strikeouts. For his career, he’s 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings against the Pirates.
See Tuesday’s probable pitching matchup above for more information on the Pirates’ likely plan.
How to Watch & Listen
Tuesday, September 15: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, September 16: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, September 17: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Brewers are on the verge of clinching the division, while the Pirates are still trying to keep themselves in the playoff picture, even if the odds are very slim. I think that will make this a more interesting series than one might expect but still give me Milwaukee to win two of three.

















