Pittsburgh Pirates: Previewing First Trip of the Season to Milwaukee

This weekend the Pittsburgh Pirates will make their first trip of the season to Miller Park in Milwaukee to play their divisional rivals the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time in 2021

For over a decade Miller Park in Milwaukee has been a house of horrors for the Pittsburgh Pirates.   Miller Park opened in 2001, through 2006 the Pirates owned a 24-24 record in Milwaukee. Respectable, especially considering the 2001-2006 Pirate teams were bad.

During the 2007 season the Pittsburgh Pirates went 1-8 at Miller Park. This was the beginning of the house of horrors. From 2007-2010 the Pirates 5-22 at Miller Park. Even when the Pirates made the postseason in 2013-2015 they still had a losing record at Miller Park. Although, the 2018 Pirate team that finished with a winning record did manage a 5-4 record in Milwaukee.

The past two seasons, however, the struggles returned. The Pittsburgh Pirates went just 2-11 the previous two seasons at Miller Park, and now it’s time for their first trip of the 2021 season to the house of horrors.

Now, the house of horrors has changed. Miller Park is now named American Family Field. So, maybe that will be the key to the Pirates turning things around in Milwaukee? At least that’s what we’ll tell ourselves.

The Pirates enter the series with a record of 5-8 on the year. They are coming off of splitting a four-game series with the San Diego Padres. Unfortunately, the series ended on a sour note with Mitch Keller turning in another poor start in a Pirate loss.

Milwaukee enters the series coming off an off day on Thursday. Prior to that, the Brew Crew took two of three from the Chicago Cubs to improve to 7-5 on the season. This puts the Brewers in an early season tie for first place in the National League Central.

Game One
Date: Friday, April 16, 2021
Time: 8:10 PM EST
Pitching Matchup: JT Brubaker (1.93 ERA, 4.64 FIP) vs Adrian Houser (1.80 ERA, 4.84 FIP)

Friday night’s pitching matchup will feature a pair of starting pitchers who are off to strong starts this season. JT Brubaker will toe the rubber for the Pittsburgh Pirates while Adrian Houser will make the start for the Brew Crew. Both Brubaker and Houser will be making their third starts of the season.

Brubaker entered the 2021 season looking to determine if his long-term home with the Pittsburgh Pirates would be in the starting rotation or the bullpen. Through two starts, he is making a strong push to lockdown a permanent rotation spot.

After last just 4 innings in his first start Brubaker went 5.1 strong in his second outing. The young righty has allowed just 1 run in each of these starts, with the lone run he allowed in his second start coming on a solo home run which is the lone home run he’s allowed through two starts. Brubaker’s slider has looked like a plus pitch and he’s struck out 10 batters while walking just 5.

Through his first two starts this season Houser has posted a 1.80 ERA. However, he has pitched just 10 innings, having gone 5 innings in each start, and he’s walked 14.6% of batters faced while striking out just 17.1%. If Pirate batters can be patient at the plate then they should be able to find some success against Houser on Friday night.

Game Three
Date: Sunday, April 18, 2021
Time: 2:10 PM EST
Pitching Matchup: Chad Kuhl (6.75 ERA, 8.86 FIP) vs Freddy Peralta (0.69 ERA, 2.52 FIP)

Sunday afternoon’s series finale features a pitching matchup that, on paper at least, heavily favors the Brew Crew. Chad Kuhl will look to find his groove for the Pirates after struggling in his first three starts of the season. Meanwhile, the Brewers will send Freddy Peralta, who has pitched lights out thus far this season, to the mound.

Through his first three starts this season Kuhl has not been able to consistently find the strike zone. He has walked 27.3% of batters faced and has thrown just 48.9% of his pitches for strikes. This has contributed to Kuhl posting just a 14.5% strikeout rate through his first three starts.

The 1st inning has been a major issue for Kuhl this season. 8 of the 9 earned runs he has allowed have been in the 1st inning. Pitching a clean opening inning would go a long way toward Kuhl finding success in Sunday’s start.

Additionally, the Brewers may be what Kuhl needs to get back on track. Kuhl owns a 1.73 ERA across 41.2 innings pitched in eight outings against the Brewers. In four starts at Miller Park, Kuhl owns a 1.85 ERA in 24.1 innings pitched.

Peralta, meanwhile, has been electric for the Brewers. He has pitched 13 innings in three outings this season, striking out 47.1% of batters faced and the lone run he has allowed came on a solo home run.

Control has been a bit of a concern for Peralta, though, as he’s walked 17.6% of batters faced and he’s thrown a wild pitch in his first 13 innings of the season. If Pirate batters can be patient at the plate on Sunday afternoon then they may be able to find success against Peralta.

Can the Pittsburgh Pirates find success at their house of horrors this weekend? We will find out! Make sure to stay tuned here at Rum Bunter for coverage throughout the weekend and follow along on our social media accounts for live series coverage.