Pirates @ Brewers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Pirates (40-65)

@ Milwaukee Brewers (63-43)

Starting Pitchers:

Wilson (PIT): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Lauer (MIL) 3-4; 3.78 ERA

Current odds:

Pittsburgh Pirates: (+200)

Milwaukee Brewers: (-220)

• Brewers closer Josh Hader has been put on the Covid list and will be out a minimum of 10 days. 

• Left-hander Eric Lauer will look to continue Milwaukee’s recent success against Pittsburgh when the Brewers open a three-game series at home on Monday against the Pirates.

• Milwaukee, which leads the National League Central by seven games over Cincinnati, swept a three-game series at Pittsburgh last week, outscoring the Pirates 28-3 to open a six-game road trip. The Brewers are 10-3 this season against last-place Pittsburgh, which trails Milwaukee by 22 1/2 games.

• Milwaukee then took two of three in Atlanta, including a 2-1 victory on Sunday, improving to just 10-35 when scoring three runs or fewer. Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 23 chances, but first since his last opportunity on July 8.

• The Brewers, who have won 10 of 14 since the All-Star break, got a solo homer from Willy Adames, his 18th of season, but 13th in 62 games with Milwaukee since being acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay. Lorenzo Cain scored on an RBI groundout in the fifth to put the Brewers up 2-0.

• Right-hander Bryse Wilson (2-3, 4.83 ERA) will make his first start for Pittsburgh on Monday after being acquired in a deadline deal with Atlanta for right-handed reliever Richard Rodriguez.

• After being swept by the Brewers, the Pirates bounced back to take two from Philadelphia before dropping the series finale 15-4 on Sunday.

• Lauer (3-4, 3.78) has posted a 1.17 ERA in his last five outings, including four starts allowing five earned runs in 26 1/3 innings. After six consecutive starts, Lauer last pitched in relief on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits in three innings in the Brewers’ 7-3 victory at Pittsburgh. Lauer is 1-2 with 3.13 ERA in six career appearances, including five starts, against Pittsburgh.

• The 23-year-old Wilson made seven starts with Atlanta this season, bouncing back and forth between the Braves and Triple A. He pitched three scoreless innings in his previous start last Monday against the Mets. Wilson started one game against the Brewers in 2019, allowing four runs in four innings to take the loss.

• The Brewers have five players on the injured list due to COVID-19. Outfielder Christian Yelich and relievers Hunter Strickland and Jake Cousins tested positive, while infielder Jace Peterson and reliever Jandel Gustave were placed on the IL due to contact tracing protocols.

The series marks the home debut for three Brewers players acquired before the deadline — infielder Eduardo Escobar from Arizona, right-handed reliever John Curtiss from Miami and left-handed reliever Daniel Norris from Detroit.