The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers in the rubber game of this series. Why is this game considered vital? Well, the Brewers and Pirates are division rivals, though Milwaukee isn't contending, they are a threat because they are playing spoilers. Want to watch the game free online? Check out the live stream brought to you by MLB.TV.
It will be a battle of righties as Yovani Gallardo and Gerrit Cole face off at 7:05 p.m. ET.
The home starter and rookie, Gerrit Cole, takes the hill for the Pirates. He's 6-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 13 starts this year. He's pitched decently in his last two starts, but has found a stroke of luck after placing 17 runners on base. Cole allowed five hits and walked two against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which isn't terrible. He earned the "W" in that match, but then against the San Diego Padres in his most recent start, he went six innings, allowing 10 hits, though only giving up two earned runs. 17 players on base and only four earned runs, he's very fortunate.
Earlier in the year, Cole pitched against the Brewers and beat them, going six innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, three walks and he recorded three strikeouts. The Brewers will once again have their opportunities on Thursday, if Cole can't pitch dominant baseball, which he's shown sporadically throughout the season.
If there's anybody who has lacked dominance in 2013, it's Gallardo. Once considered the ace of the Brewers' pitching staff, at 9-9 and a 4.81 ERA, Gallardo has lacked to impress in his 25 starts this season. However, he's been dominant in his last two starts after missing just a little over two weeks of baseball. He dominated their division rival, Cincinnati Reds, surrendering only two earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched against the third-place team out of the N.L. Central.
The Pirates will look to build on their Wednesday win as they enter this rubber game. Marlon Byrd immediately made his presence, helping Andrew McCutchen on offense. Byrd hit a three-run bomb in the seventh to give the Pirates the cushion they needed to finish off the Brewers.
