Milwaukee staggers into this pivotal weekend with a 6-11 September record and 3.5 games to make up against the Buccos for the second wild card. Matt Garza (8-8, 3.74) gets the ball against Edinson Volquez (12-7, 3.27). Both pitchers have it together of late. Garza is 2-1, 2.64 in his last six starts while Volquez is 2-0, 1.85 in recent assignments.
Given that Garza has spent most of his career in the AL, few Pirates have extensive histories against him. Andrew McCutchen is hitting .250 with a home run in 12 at bats while Gabby Sanchez and Travis Snider are hitting .364 and .300 respectively. Light-hitting Clint Barmes has two four-baggers in 15 at bats against Garza.
Across the diamond, a few members of the Brew Crew have fared quite well against Volquez, led by Carlos Gomez, who has three homers and a .321 average. Jonathan Lucroy (.308), Scooter Gennett (.500) and Ryan Braun (.317) are other top performers while Rickie Weeks has hit Volquez at a .368 clip with two homers in 19 at bats. On the flip side, Mark Reynolds is 1-12 and Juan Segura 0-15.
I like the run Volquez is on but there are too many Brewers who hit him well. Take Milwaukee.