Game of the Week: June 22: PIT @ MIL

[Commissioner Erick]

Pittsburgh Pirates (39-30) @ Milwaukee Brewers (44-27)


PIT: Gerrit Cole (6-2, 2.41)
MIL: Luis Ortiz (6-2, 2.90)


Many expected the Pirates and Brewers to be non-factors this season thanks to down 2019s and the Chicago Cubs' dominance.

While the Cubs are clear favorites for the division crown, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers square off for a Game of the Week matchup with key wild card implications.

The Milwaukee Brewers have not made the playoffs in the PBA, but are 6.5 games clear of a wild card berth. The team is 44-27 and using an unconventional 10-man pitching staff with a four-man rotation, but they're surviving. The setup has placed a lot of strain on their bullpen, but the relievers on the team have the sixth best reliever ERA in the league.

Edwin Diaz is a key force behind that number as the Puerto Rican flamethrower leads the NL in saves with 16 conversions in 16 attempts, and has five wins alongside. He has 2.2 WPA added, meaning only Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, and Bonkers Carrizales have added more WPA than Diaz. Diaz saved all 20 of his opportunities in 2017 when he won AL Reliever of the year, and saved 35 of 38 games last year. Thanks to those great conversion rates, only Wade Davis and Aroldis Chapman have higher save percentages all time.

Diaz' performance is the main reason the Brewers are 17-2 (!!!) in one-run games this year, a ludicrous percentage that surely can't continue. However, the team makes good contact, ranking second in batting average. When the game is close and late, the Brewers have the third highest average, the most steals, and tied for the most sacrifice bunts in the league. They have the fewest strikeouts and the most sacrifice flies.

In this era of home runs and walks, Milwaukee is proving the small ball can still be a viable strategy.

Milwaukee will take on a Pirates team led by Gerrit Cole. Cole is coming off the best start of the season, a one-hit, 8-inning performance against the Rockies where he completely flummoxed the Colorado bats. After a dip last season, Cole is back to being who he was in 2017 and 2018, if not better. He doesn't strike too many batters out, but he has good command, sequences well, and gets a lot of fly balls and pop ups. He also plays for the third best defense in the NL, and a team with a spectacular outfield defense that can reel in the fly balls he allows.

A lot of that defense can be traced back to Andrew Stevenson. While Stevenson hasn't developed as a hitter, hitting .284 with seven homers last year, and suffering through a .237 campaign with no long balls this year, he has provided defensive value. His 3.2 zone rating is second among NL left fielders. While the offense will need to pick up, Gerrit Cole I'm sure appreciates the defense.


Questions for the GMs:


For Mike McAvoy, the Brewers are so good in close games late. What will your approach be to this game so you don't get into that situation?

You have a player in Stevenson who is all glove, no-bat at this point in his career. How do you reconcile that maneuver around that extreme strength and weakness?

You went pitching heavy the first three rounds of the draft. What did you think of your selections?

For Vic Black, are you concerned most of your success has been built around an unsustainable record in close games?

You made a number of acquisitions last year that are bearing fruit. What would you say has been your best transaction so far?

You went with two starters in the first round of the draft. What do you think about their upside?

[Commissioner Erick]

Pirates 3 - Brewers 2


WP: G. Cole (7-2)
LP: L. Ortiz (6-3)
SV: F. Rivero (14)


In a game where both Gerrit Cole and Luis Ortiz were pretty good but couldn't provide length, last night's Game of the Week turned into a battle of the bullpens.

While Milwaukee's was immaculate, Pittsburgh's was the one granted a lead.

Kevin Newman had a run scoring hit in the sixth inning, Pittsburgh's bullpen worked 4 scoreless frames, and Felipe Rivero picked up his 14th save as the Pittsburgh Pirates nipped the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2.

It was a rare one-run loss for Milwaukee, but through no fault of their bullpen. After Luis Ortiz was lifted in the sixth innings, Jorge Lopez came on and worked 2.1 innings allowing just one hit. Cory Knebel pitched the ninth inning and got three outs on three pitches. Milwaukee continued to show why it wins so many close games as its bullpen was strong once again.

The Brewers offense couldn't touch the Pirates' pen though.

Pat Light came on to work the sixth and gave up a one out single to Lourdes Gurriel. It would be the last hit the Brewers picked up in the game. Keston Hiura struck out and Gurriel was caught stealing to end the inning.

Trevor Williams came on to work the seventh and promptly walked Mauricio Dubon. Curiously, A.J. Reed was asked upon to bunt, failed, then popped up to shortstop on a full count. Williams got the next two outs without a hitch.

Those were the last good chances the Brewers had. They had a runner reach on an error with two outs in the eighth, but didn't score against Casey Sadler. Felipe Rivero continued his excellent season striking out Hiura, getting Dubon to ground out, and retiring Reed on a short fly ball to end the game.

Altogether, Pittsburgh's bullpen worked 4 innings allowing just one walk and one hit in an exemplary performance.

The Pirates got on the board in the fourth when Josh Bell doubled in a run. A balk pushed him to third and a Kolten Wong fly ball scored Bell to make it 2-0.

The Brewers got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Gurriel hit a long home run. Hiura followed with a double but Dubon fouled out to end the threat. The next inning Carrizales scored on a wild pitch to tie the game up.

Kevin Newman's ground single up the middle with two outs in the sixth plated Newman with what turned out to be the winning run.


Questions for the GMs:


For Mike McAvoy, Kolten Wong is only hitting .229 after his 0-3 day, yet you batted him fifth. Why did you bat him there?

Josh Bell had three hits, scored a run and drove one in. He's had an excellent career, but do you feel he gets the respect he deserves?

Milwaukee is excellent in big games but your pen still got the job done and beat them on a one-run game. How proud are you of that feat?

For Vic Black, your manager bot had A.J. Reed bunt in a big moment late. How did you feel about that decision?

Luis Ortiz had a good game, one of many he's had this year. However, he couldn't go 6 innings because of the four man rotation your team employs. Do you feel you may need to go back to a five-man staff at some point?

Lourdes Gurriel had a huge game. Looking back, how do you feel about the trade to bring him to Milwaukee back in 2017?

[vicblack22]

For Vic Black, your manager bot had A.J. Reed bunt in a big moment late. How did you feel about that decision?

That move still puzzles me. You bunt with a player that leads your team in home runs. Amazing!


Luis Ortiz had a good game, one of many he's had this year. However, he couldn't go 6 innings because of the four man rotation your team employs. Do you feel you may need to go back to a five-man staff at some point?

At the moment, we don't have the luxury of going to a 5 man rotation. I send my best or who I think gives us the best chance to win to the mound. Injuries to two of our top pitchers have forced us to experiment with players who would normally not be in the rotation.



Lourdes Gurriel had a huge game. Looking back, how do you feel about the trade to bring him to Milwaukee back in 2017?

I think the trade has had a huge impact on the team. Not necessarily putting up monster numbers, his presence has been very positive. A fan favorite, his consistency has a major plus and his numbers will only get better.