The Pittsburgh Pirates head to American Family Field on Thursday, August 6 for a 2:10 PM ET first pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers. Braxton Ashcraft gets the ball for Pittsburgh opposite Dustin May in a divisional matchup that carries real NL Central implications. The game airs locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh and on the radio via 100.1 FM/KDKA-AM 1020. For a Pirates club built around young talent finding its footing, how Ashcraft handles a Milwaukee lineup with legitimate pop at the top is worth watching closely.

Pitching Matchup: Ashcraft vs. May

Braxton Ashcraft has been one of the more intriguing arms in the Pittsburgh system, and every start he makes at this level is a data point for the organization. The right-hander needs to attack the zone and generate early-count outs. Milwaukee's lineup does damage when pitchers fall behind, so first-pitch strike percentage will matter from the first batter Ashcraft faces.

On the other side, Dustin May brings a legitimate mid-rotation arm to the mound for the Brewers. May's sinker-heavy approach can make life difficult for a Pittsburgh lineup that needs to stay disciplined and work counts rather than chase ground-ball situations early. This is a start the Pirates offense has to prepare for — May is not someone you can sleepwalk through at-bats against.

Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup

• Jake Mangum — CF
• Brandon Lowe — 2B
• Bryan Reynolds — LF
• Endy Rodríguez — DH
• Spencer Horwitz — 1B
• Nick Gonzales — 3B
• Ronny Simon — RF
• Jacob Gonzalez — SS
• Henry Davis — C

Milwaukee Brewers Lineup

• Brice Turang — 2B
• Jackson Chourio — LF
• Garrett Mitchell — CF
• Andrew Vaughn — 1B
• Christian Yelich — DH
• Luis Lara — RF
• Gary Sánchez — C
• David Hamilton — 3B
• Cooper Pratt — SS

Keys to Watch for the Pirates

Bryan Reynolds Sets the Tone

Reynolds hitting third is exactly where he belongs. If he can get on base and put pressure on Milwaukee's defense, the middle of this Pirates order gets more opportunities to do damage. Reynolds has been the anchor of this lineup, and his at-bats against May will tell you a lot about how Pittsburgh's offensive day goes.

Endy Rodríguez in the Cleanup Spot

Rodríguez batting fourth is a statement of where the organization sees his ceiling. He has the bat speed and the approach to punish mistakes. Against a pitcher like May, Rodríguez needs to be patient early in counts and look for something he can drive rather than chasing sinkers down in the zone.

Ashcraft's Command in the Early Innings

The Brewers put together a lineup with speed at the top — Turang and Chourio can both create problems on the bases — and legitimate run-producing ability in the middle with Vaughn and Yelich. Ashcraft cannot afford to walk the ballpark. If he keeps the ball down and trusts his defense, Pittsburgh has a chance to keep this game close deep into the middle innings.

Henry Davis Behind the Plate

Davis batting ninth and catching Ashcraft is a pairing to monitor. How Davis frames pitches and manages the running game against a Brewers lineup that can run will factor into whether Ashcraft settles in or gets chased early.

Prediction

This is a tough road spot for Pittsburgh. American Family Field plays well for Milwaukee, and Dustin May gives the Brewers a real advantage in the pitching matchup on paper. If Ashcraft can give the Pirates five innings of quality work and Reynolds and Rodríguez get to May, there's a path to a win. But the Brewers lineup has enough firepower through the first five spots to make life difficult. Brewers 4, Pirates 3 — a competitive game that comes down to one or two swings either way.