Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers bid to halt slide in clash vs. Pirates

The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski as they look to snap a three-game skid when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Misiorowski (1-2, 3.04 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79).

Paul Skenes and two relievers combined on a one-hitter to pace the Pirates to a 6-0 victory in the series opener Friday. Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, took a perfect game into seventh inning before allowing a two-out single to Jake Bauers.

Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer, two singles and three RBIs as Pittsburgh snapped an eight-game losing streak to Milwaukee.

Misiorowski struck out nine in five innings his last time out but took the loss in a 5-3 defeat at Miami on Sunday. He allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks.

Misiorowski has 42 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings this season, and opponents are batting just .177 against him. He is 2-0 with an 0.75 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates, allowing just one run in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.

The Brewers, missing much of their power with Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn and Christian Yelich all injured, have just one homer in their last nine games. Milwaukee lost 5-4 on Thursday at Detroit, which started Tarik Skubal before the Brewers faced a Cy Young winner, Skenes, in consecutive games.

"The two guys were really, really top notch, especially when you've got a decimated lineup," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. "We've got three of our top hitters out. You take three hitters out of any lineup and face those guys, it'll be tough."

Milwaukee is playing an NL Central rival for the first time this season. Each team in the division is above .500. Pittsburgh has not lost back-to-back games since falling in the first two games of the season.

"The division is strong," Pirates manager Don Kelly said after Friday's win. "Teams are playing really well, and again, we have to continue to do what we do. Come show up every day and compete like that regardless of what happens. We'll enjoy this one for a little bit tonight, but we've got to get ready for tomorrow."

Keller is coming off a solid outing, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings of a 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. He has allowed nine runs in 29 innings in his five starts this season, but five runs came in a four-inning outing in a 5-4 loss to Washington on April 14.

Keller has struggled against the Brewers over his career, going 1-7 with a 5.31 ERA in 12 starts against them. He was 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA last season in three starts vs. Milwaukee, allowing nine runs on 20 hits in 16 1/3 innings.

Pittsburgh's Nick Gonzales had an RBI single Friday to extend his hitting streak to five games, batting .421 (8-for-19) over that span.

Teammate Spencer Horwitz also had an RBI single in the series opener. In 16 career games vs. Milwaukee, he is hitting .311 with five doubles, a homer and seven RBIs.

--Field Level Media