The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to PNC Park on Thursday, September 17 for a 12:35 PM ET matinee. With the regular season winding down, every game carries weight in the standings, and this afternoon tilt gives the Pirates a chance to close out their home ledger on a strong note. Wilber Dotel gets the ball for Pittsburgh, squaring off against Kyle Harrison for Milwaukee. Catch it on SportsNet Pittsburgh or on the radio at 100.1 FM/KDKA-AM 1020.
Pitching Matchup: Wilber Dotel vs. Kyle Harrison
The Pirates are sending Wilber Dotel to the hill for this one. The right matchup at the right time in September can define how a team finishes, and the Pirates are counting on Dotel to give them length and keep the Brewers' lineup in check at a ballpark that tends to favor pitchers when the September air cools off along the Allegheny.
Harrison gets the start for Milwaukee. The left-hander will look to neutralize whatever Pittsburgh puts together offensively. This is a pitching-centric matchup by design, which means both offenses will need to manufacture runs when the opportunities present themselves — a premium is on not wasting baserunners.
Keys to Watch in Thursday's Game
- Dotel's command: Pittsburgh's success in this game starts and ends with how well Dotel commands the strike zone. Getting ahead in counts against Milwaukee's lineup keeps pressure on the Brewers and limits big innings.
- Capitalizing against Harrison: Left-handed starters can be tricky late in the year when rosters are expanded and matchups multiply. The Pirates' hitters need to be aggressive early in counts and not let Harrison settle into a rhythm.
- Bullpen management: In a September afternoon game with postseason positioning potentially on the line, how both managers deploy their relief corps could be the deciding factor if this game stays close into the sixth and seventh innings.
- Home crowd energy: PNC Park crowds show up for day games in September when it matters, and the Pirates will feed off that energy. A fast start would go a long way toward getting the ballpark into the game early.
Prediction
This shapes up as a tight, low-scoring game decided by which starter controls the pace longer. Pittsburgh gets the home field advantage and the crowd behind them. Dotel holds the Brewers to two runs or fewer over five-plus innings, the Pirates scratch across enough offensively to come away with a win in front of the home fans. Pirates 3, Brewers 2.
