The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates continue their four-game series at PNC Park, with the Pirates looking to bounce back after dropping the first two games.
Game Overview
- Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
- Time: 6:40 PM ET
- Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
- Broadcast: ESPN, Bally Sports Wisconsin, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
- Series Status: Brewers lead 2-0
Team Breakdown
Milwaukee Brewers (25-27, 3rd in NL Central)
- Last Game: 8-5 win vs. Pirates
- Key Players:
- Brice Turang – Batting .278, with four home runs and 21 RBIs.
- Rhys Hoskins – Has been red-hot, going 13-for-34 with three doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.
- Freddy Peralta (SP) – 5-3, 2.59 ERA, coming off a five-inning, one-run outing.
Pittsburgh Pirates (18-34, 5th in NL Central)
- Last Game: 5-8 loss vs. Brewers
- Key Players:
- Oneil Cruz – Leads the team with 10 home runs, but is batting just .229.
- Jared Triolo – Has struggled, going 4-for-28 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games.
- Paul Skenes (SP) – 3-5, 2.44 ERA, ranks top 10 in strikeout rate among starters.
Key Matchups & Storylines
1. Brewers’ Offensive Momentum vs. Pirates’ Pitching Struggles
Milwaukee has scored 16 runs in the first two games of the series, while Pittsburgh’s pitching staff ranks 28th in strikeouts per nine innings (7.4 K/9).
2. Peralta vs. Skenes – Pitching Duel
- Freddy Peralta (MIL): 5-3, 2.59 ERA, has held opponents to a 6.8% barrel rate this season.
- Paul Skenes (PIT): 3-5, 2.44 ERA, has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of 10 starts.
3. Pirates’ Offensive Struggles
Pittsburgh ranks 29th in wOBA and 30th in ISO against right-handed pitchers, making it difficult to generate runs against Peralta.
4. Brewers’ Road Performance vs. Pirates’ Home Struggles
Milwaukee has a 10-17 road record, while Pittsburgh is 12-15 at home. Can the Pirates capitalize on home-field advantage?
5. NL Central Standings Impact
Both teams are fighting to stay competitive in the division, making this series crucial for positioning.
Prediction & X-Factors
- Likely Outcome: A close, competitive game with pitching dictating the pace.
- X-Factors:
- Peralta’s ability to go deep into the game – If he limits walks, Milwaukee has the edge.
- Skenes’ strikeout potential – Can he dominate Milwaukee’s lineup?
- Pirates’ ability to generate offense – If Cruz and Triolo step up, Pittsburgh could pull off a win.
Game Odds
Milwaukee Brewers 8.5
Pittsburgh Pirates – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, May 23, 2025
