The Milwaukee Brewers head to Pittsburgh for a 4:05 PM ET first pitch on Saturday, July 11 at PNC Park, squaring off against the Pirates in an NL Central showdown. Shane Drohan gets the ball for Milwaukee opposite Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler. With the second half of the season underway following the All-Star break, every game in the division carries real weight, and the Brewers will want to take care of business against a Pirates club that will be playing in front of its home crowd.

Probable Pitchers: Drohan vs. Chandler

Shane Drohan draws the start for the Brewers. The left-hander will need to navigate a Pirates lineup that is constructed to put pressure on pitchers early. Pittsburgh counters with Bubba Chandler, a young right-hander who has been part of the Pirates' rotation development. Neither pitcher's current season ERA or record is available heading into this preview, so we'll let what happens on the field do the talking.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

The Pirates have released their lineup for Saturday. Here is how Pittsburgh will line up against Drohan:

• 1. Nick Gonzales, 3B
• 2. Brandon Lowe, 2B
• 3. Bryan Reynolds, LF
• 4. Esmerlyn Valdez, RF
• 5. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B
• 6. Marcell Ozuna, DH
• 7. Rafael Flores Jr., C
• 8. Jared Triolo, SS
• 9. Billy Cook, CF

Bryan Reynolds batting third gives Pittsburgh its most dangerous presence in the heart of the order, and Marcell Ozuna slotting in at DH adds a threat that Drohan cannot afford to take lightly. Brandon Lowe in the two-hole gives Pittsburgh an on-base option that can set up Reynolds for run-scoring situations.

Keys to Watch for the Brewers

Drohan's Command Against a Versatile Lineup

Pittsburgh's lineup has both left-handed and right-handed bats spread throughout, which means Drohan cannot afford to fall into predictable patterns. Getting ahead in counts early will be critical. If he allows Reynolds and Ozuna to work deep counts or earn free passes, the Pirates can do damage without needing to string together multiple hits.

Exploiting Chandler Early

Chandler is a developing arm, and Milwaukee's offense should look to work his pitch count from the first inning. Getting into the Pittsburgh bullpen before the sixth inning would be a significant advantage for the Brewers.

Keeping the Inning Clean After Baserunners

PNC Park is a hitter-friendly environment in the right conditions, and Pittsburgh's lineup has the depth to punish mistakes with runners on base. Milwaukee's defense and situational execution will matter just as much as Drohan's stuff.

Prediction

This is a winnable road game for Milwaukee. Drohan has the opportunity to set the tone for the second half, and if the Brewers can neutralize Reynolds and Ozuna, Pittsburgh's lineup becomes much more manageable. Expect a competitive, low-scoring game decided in the later innings. Brewers 4, Pirates 2.

Catch the game on Brewers.TV Presented by Potawatomi Sportsbook or listen on WTMJ 620 AM in Milwaukee.