There is nothing worse for the Pirates than facing the Milwaukee Brewers, but they will do just that tonight as the two squads continue their series at Miller Park. Pittsburgh dropped their 16th straight game in Milwaukee last night and odds makers are predicting a 17th consecutive loss tonight. The game is scheduled to start at 8:05pm ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers MLB Tips at BetUS.com have the Brewers listed as -155 moneyline favorite. The game total is set at 8.5 runs with the under being favored at -115 odds.
The Pirates fell to Milwaukee 10-5 last night, but maintained their second place position in the NL Central standings at 11-8. The loss was just their third in their last 10 games and their fifth in 10 2009 road contests.
Pittsburgh had a productive night at the plate, cranking out 11 hits, but they could not come through when it really mattered as they stranded 10 base runners. Starting pitcher Jeff Karstens got roughed up by Milwaukee, giving up five hits and five earned runs in five innings of work.
Miwaukee had eight hits in the ball game, three of which were the long ball variety. The Brew Crew posted three solo shots against Karstens but blew thing open with five runs in the bottom of the eighth off of Carlos Villanueva. Pitcher Braden Looper turned in another solid performance; he allowed six hits and two earned runs in five innings.
Pittsburgh will attempt to break their Miller Park jinx behind the arm of 26 year old Paul Maholm. The Mississippi State product finished strong last year, but has been even more impressive through four 2009 starts. The Pirates are 4-0 in those outings while Maholm has garnered a 3-0 record with a 2.03 ERA. He has worked a total of 26.2 innings this year and given up just 22 hits and six earned runs.
Maholm was 0-3 in five starts versus Milwaukee last season with a 4.55 ERA. The Brewers posted a .293 batting average against the southpaw.
Milwaukee will send Pittsburgh native Dave Bush to the mound this evening to face his hometwon team. Bush is 1-0 in three 2009 starts with a 3.86 ERA. The Wake Forest graduate had a brilliant performance in his last start, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 6-1 win at Philadelphia. Despite the 29 year olds nice start to the year, the Brewers are just 1-3 when he has started.
The Brewers won the season series with the Pirates last year 14-1.
BetUS.com Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers MLB Tips:
Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (-165), Over 8.5 (-105), +135 (Moneyline)
Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+145), Under 8.5 (-115), -155 (Moneyline)
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