Pirates Preview: Bucs Start Series vs. Red-Hot Brewers

Danny Demilio |

Aug 11, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost a 14-8 marathon against the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a four-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Five different Pirates had multiple hits, but the bullpen allowed 10 runs in four innings of relief after starter Mike Burrows allowed four runs himself.

Things won’t get any easier for the Pirates (51-68) as they start a six-game road trip with the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers (73-44) on Monday night.

First pitch is set for 7:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

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

LHP Andrew Heaney (5-9, 4.77 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Heaney last pitched against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and allowed one run on just two hits across 4.2 innings.

Prior to his better outing the last time out, Heaney posted an 8.72 ERA over his last eight starts dating back to the second game of a doubleheader in Detroit on June 19.

His recent struggles could be why the Pirates have pulled Heaney after 18 batters (two times through the lineup) in each of his past two starts.

Heaney allowed seven runs in four innings in Milwaukee on June 24. In his career against the Brewers, the left-hander is 1-3 with a 6.56 ERA across five starts.

LHP José Quintana (9-4, 3.57 ERA) Will Start for the Brewers

Quintana delivered a quality start against the Braves in Atlanta by allowing three runs in six innings on Wednesday.

The left-hander has gone at least five innings in 16 of 17 his 17 starts on the season and each of his last eight.

Quintana pitched for the Pirates in 2022 and went 3-5 with a 3.50 ERA across 20 starts before he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline.

In 15 career starts against the Pirates, Quintana is 5-2 with a 3.23 ERA.

Brewers Hitters vs. Heaney

Christian Yelich: 3 for 13, one double, two walks, four strikeouts
Andrew Vaughn: 2 for 10, one home run, one RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
William Contreras: 3 for 6, two doubles, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Brice Turang: 4 for 5, one walk, one strikeout
Joey Ortiz: 3 for 5, three home runs, four RBI, one strikeout
Danny Jansen: 1 for 4, two walks, one strikeout
Brandon Lockridge: 1 for 3, one double
Sal Frelick: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Quintana

Andrew McCutchen: 8 for 26, one double, one home run, three RBI, three walks, eight strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 6 for 22, one double, one home run, three RBI, two walks, four strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 18, one double, three RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 10, one double, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 0 for 6, one RBI, two strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Andrew McCutchen has 40 home runs and 106 RBI against the Brewers in his career. Both are the most among active players.
The Brewers have scored 70 runs this most, which are the most in MLB. The Pirates have scored the third-most runs in baseball with 57.
Tommy Pham enters the game having reached base safely in each of his last 17 games dating back to July 19. It’s the fifth-longest active streak in baseball.