Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Looks to Halt Brewers Streak

Danny Demilio |

Aug 12, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 7-1 by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first of a three-game series at American Family Field on Monday night.

Andrew Heaney continued to struggle and allowed six runs (five earned) in four innings while former Pirate Jose Quintana got the win after throwing six-strong innings.

The Pirates (51-69) will look to even their series with the Brewers (74-44) — who have won 10 games in a row — on Tuesday 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.

RHP Paul Skenes (7-8, 1.94 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Skenes last pitched against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday and threw six-shutout innings with eight strikeouts.

After going winless in eight starts from June 3 to July 11, the right-hander has won each of his last three decisions. He hasn’t allowed a run in any of those starts.

Skenes leads baseball with a 1.94 ERA. He’s tied for first in batting average against (.192), fourth in WHIP (0.93) and sixth in strikeouts (162).

Skenes allowed five runs in 10 innings in his first two starts against Milwaukee this season. In three career starts against the Brewers, he’s 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA.

RHP Freddy Peralta (13-5, 3.03 ERA) Will Start for the Brewers

Peralta has been up and down of late, but he held the Atlanta Braves to one run in five innings last Tuesday.

Over his last four starts, Peralta has allowed 11 runs across 19 innings on 19 hits, 12 walks and 23 strikeouts.

Peralta leads the National League with 13 wins, is seventh in batting average against (.207) and 10th in ERA.

The right-hander has been charged with four earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Pirates on the year. In 24 career appearances against Pittsburgh, his most against any team, Peralta is 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA.

Brewers Hitters vs. Skenes

Christian Yelich: 3 for 8, one RBI, three strikeouts
Brice Turang; 1 for 8, three strikeouts
Sal Frelick: 0 for 8, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
William Contreras: 0 for 6, three strikeouts
Caleb Durbin: 1 for 4, one strikeout
Andrew Monasterio: 0 for 4, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Peralta

Bryan Reynolds: 14 for 36, two doubles, one triple, one home run, four RBI, five walks, 11 strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 6 for 18, two doubles, one home run, two RBI, two walks, seven strikeouts
Jack Suwinski: 2 for 12, two doubles, two RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 12, one home run, one RBI, two walks, three strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 10, one walk, six strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 7, two strikeouts
Nick Gonzales: 2 for 7, one double, one home run, five RBI, three strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 7, one RBI, two strikeouts
Henry Davis: 0 for 5, one walk, three strikeouts
Spencer Horwitz: 1 for 4

Tidbits

Joey Bart homered for the first time since April 7 in the Pirates’ loss to the Brewers. He had gone 60 games without hitting a home run.
Andrew Heaney has an 8.19 ERA over his last outings dating back to the second game of a doubleheader in Detroit on June 19 . He’s been charged with 12 earned runs in eight innings against the Brewers this season.
The Brewers are 25-4 in their last 29 games dating back to July 6.