Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Head to Milwaukee to Face Division-Leading Brewers

Published

7 months ago

July 9, 2024

Danny Demilio

The Pittsburgh Pirates earned a series split against the New York Mets with an 8-2 win at PNC Park on Monday afternoon.

Mitch Keller went eight innings and allowed two runs while Oneil Cruz and Joshua Palacios each homered for the Pirates.

The Pirates (43-47) will now travel to Milwaukee for the start of a three-game series against the Brewers (53-38) starting Tuesday night.

First pitch is set for 8:10 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

American Family Field as a retractable roof, so weather will not be an issue this series.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Josh Fleming (1-1, 4.13 ERA)

Fleming has been pitching great for the Pirates since he was selected on June 14.

In six appearances since rejoining the Pirates, Fleming has allowed just one run in nine innings. His first appearance back was a start at Coors Field in which he blanked the Rockies on four hits in four innings pitched.

This will be Fleming’s third start this season. His first of the year came against the Brewers in Milwaukee. He took the loss after allowing two unearned runs in 2.1 innings.

Fleming has faced the Brewers twice in his career and has allowed eight runs (five earned) in 3.1 innings.

The Milwaukee Brewers Will Send Out RHP Colin Rea (8-2, 3.34 ERA)

Rea continued his solid season with seven-shutout innings on the road at Colorado in his last start.

The right-hander is in the top 10 in the National League and his 3.34 ERA is the 13th-best among qualified starting pitchers.

Though Rea’s surface-level numbers are great, he could be due for some level of regression. His 4.61 ERA — aided by a lowly 6.3 strikeouts per nine innings — indicates he has had some good fortune.

Rea is 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA in five appearances (four starts) against the Pirates in his career.

Brewers Hitters vs. Fleming

Christian Arroyo: 4 for 7, one double
Jake Bauers: 2 for 4, one home run, five RBIs, two strikeouts
Rhys Hoskins: 0 for 3
William Contreras: 2 for 2

Pirates Hitters vs. Rea

Bryan Reynolds: 5 for 9, two doubles, two RBIs, two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 8, one walk, two strikeouts
Yasmani Grandal: 1 for 8, five strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 8, one strikeout
Jack Suwinski: 2 for 7, one double, one home run, two RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Nick Gonzales: 3 for 6, one home run, two RBIs
Michael A. Taylor: 0 for 6, one walk, one strikeout
Joshua Palacios: 1 for 5, one double
Rowdy Tellez: 0 f0r 3

Tidbits

Mitch Keller has gone at least five innings in 49 consecutive starts. That’s the longest stretch by a Pirates’ pitcher since A.J. Burnett from 2012-13 and the second-longest in Pirates’ history.
Bryan Reynolds has started all 90 games this season. That’s the most starts in a row to begin the year since Jason Bay started the first 118 games in 2006.
The Pirates are 3-4 against Milwaukee this season. The Bucs split a four-game series at PNC Park in April and dropped two out of three at American Family Field from May 13-15.