The MLB betting action continues Tuesday, August 3, and we’re taking a closer look at the National League Central showdown at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let’s see what’s the best Pirates vs. Brewers betting pick, as these two clubs face off in the middle contest of a three-game series (Monday’s opener has been excluded from the analysis).

The Brewers swept the Pirates in a three-game set at PNC Park last week, improving to 10-3 against Pittsburgh this season. Milwaukee is a firm fave for Tuesday’s clash, according to Bookmaker Sportsbook, while the totals sit at 9.0 runs.

The Pirates dropped four of their last six road contests

Excluding their Monday’s opener at American Family Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates have lost nine of their 15 post-All-Star games. Four of those nine defeats came on the road, while the Pirates have suffered a heavy 15-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in their previous outing at home.

Pittsburgh fell to 40-65 on the season following that embarrassment against the Phillies. The Pirates are sitting bottom of the NL West, looking to the future, as their 2021 campaign is already ruined. The Bucs have recorded the second-highest ERA in baseball since the All-Star break (5.91), while their defense is the fourth-worst in the MLB this term, surrendering 5.09 runs per game.

Max Kranick will get the nod Tuesday, and the 24-year-old rookie is 1-2 with an awful 7.31 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in four starts so far. Kranick met the Brewers this past Wednesday and got pounded for six earned runs on ten hits across five frames of work. He’s yielded a whopping 13 earned runs through his previous three outings (11 innings).

The Brewers look to extend their dominance over the Bucs

The Milwaukee Brewers have owned the Pirates as of late, winning nine of their last ten encounters. Last week, they dropped 26 runs on the Bucs through a three-game set while yielding only three runs in a return.

Milwaukee is leading the way in the NL West, seven games ahead of the second-placed Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers have won ten of their 14 games since the All-Star break, scoring 85 runs in the process and slashing .273/.344/.438.

On the pitching side of things, the Brewers boast the lowest post-All-Star ERA in the majors (2.62). Adrian Houser will take the mound Tuesday, and the 28-year-old righty is 7-5 with a 3.69 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 18 starts and a couple of relief appearances in 2021.

Houser is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts against the Pirates this season. He fired five scoreless innings in a 7-3 victory at Pittsburgh last Wednesday.

Betting Trends:

Pittsburgh:

  • 2-5 in the last seven games overall
  • 3-12 in the last 15 road games against Milwaukee 

Milwaukee:

  • 5-1 in the last six games overall
  • 9-1 in the last ten tilts against Pittsburgh
  • 7-0 in Adrian Houser’s last seven starts

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers Pick

The Brewers shouldn’t have any problems winning this clash. Their offense has been excellent over the last few weeks, and I’ve already mentioned that the Brew Crew have outscored the Bucs 26-3 in their last week’s three-game series at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Furthermore, the Brewers bullpen is one of the best in the majors. Since the All-Star break, Milwaukee’s relievers have registered a sparkly 2.70 ERA, so the Pirates’ offense will have a mountain to climb Tuesday. Interestingly, the Brewers are undefeated in Adrian Houser’s previous nine outings (seven starts).

Pick: Take Milwaukee Brewers at -210 

The Total:

I’m backing the under on the totals because of a nine-run line, but Milwaukee to win remains my best betting pick. The Brewers are capable of scoring a bunch of runs on their own, but the Pirates might struggle mightily against Milwaukee’s pitching.

Last week, the Pirates failed to score in two of their three meetings with the Brewers, but all three contests had at least nine runs in total. Still, Pittsburgh has scored more than a couple of runs only once in its last seven encounters with the Brewers.

Pick: Go under 9.0 runs at -105