The Milwaukee Brewers head to PNC Park on Sunday, July 12, for a 12:15 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Robert Gasser gets the start for Milwaukee against one of the most electric young arms in the National League in Paul Skenes. This is a stiff test on the road — PNC Park is a tough environment, Skenes is the kind of pitcher who can shut a lineup down in a hurry, and the Brewers will need a clean, disciplined effort to come away with a win. Catch the game on NBCSN/Peacock or listen on WTMJ 620.

Brewers vs. Pirates Pitching Matchup: Gasser Against Skenes

Robert Gasser draws the assignment in what is arguably the most difficult individual pitching matchup the Brewers could face in the NL Central. Gasser is a left-handed starter who works with solid command and relies on keeping hitters off-balance — traits that will be tested against a Pittsburgh lineup that has some dangerous bats in the middle. Gasser's ability to keep the ball on the ground and limit big innings will be the central question of this start.

On the other side, Paul Skenes is exactly the kind of arm that makes a game preview feel like a warning. The Pirates right-hander has been one of the most talked-about pitchers in baseball since he arrived in the majors, bringing a power arsenal that can overwhelm lineups top to bottom. Milwaukee's offense will need patience, selective aggression, and a willingness to grind through at-bats to have any real shot at getting to him.

Milwaukee Brewers Lineup at Pittsburgh

• Christian Yelich — DH
• Jackson Chourio — LF
• Brice Turang — 2B
• Jake Bauers — 1B
• Gary Sánchez — C
• Garrett Mitchell — CF
• Sal Frelick — RF
• Joey Ortiz — SS
• Braden Shewmake — 3B

Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup

• Jake Mangum — CF
• Brandon Lowe — 2B
• Bryan Reynolds — LF
• Esmerlyn Valdez — RF
• Ryan O'Hearn — 1B
• Nick Gonzales — 3B
• Marcell Ozuna — DH
• Jared Triolo — SS
• Henry Davis — C

Keys to Watch for the Brewers

• Yelich setting the tone: Christian Yelich leading off from the DH spot puts Milwaukee's most experienced presence at the top of the order. How Yelich fares in his first couple of at-bats against Skenes could shape the entire offensive approach for the afternoon.
• Chourio's energy: Jackson Chourio batting second gives Milwaukee a dynamic threat who can make things happen in multiple ways. Against a pitcher of Skenes's caliber, having someone in the two-hole who can put the ball in play and create chaos on the bases matters.
• Gasser's command early: Pittsburgh's lineup is capable of doing damage, and Bryan Reynolds in the three-hole is a contact hitter who can work counts. Gasser cannot afford to fall behind batters and start serving up pitches in the zone out of necessity. The first two innings will tell you a lot about how his day is going to go.
• Turang and Bauers in the middle: Brice Turang hitting third and Jake Bauers cleanup gives this lineup a different look than you might expect, but it puts two players who can grind through at-bats in spots where production matters most against an elite pitcher.

Prediction

This is a tough one to call optimistically. Skenes is the kind of starter who can make a Brewers lineup look helpless on the wrong day, and getting runs will require Milwaukee to be patient and smart — not just swing hard and hope. Gasser has the makeup to keep Pittsburgh in check if his command is there, and the Pirates lineup, while serviceable, is not overwhelming.

Expect a low-scoring game that comes down to which offense can string together anything resembling a rally. The Brewers have enough professional at-bats in that lineup to steal a run or two, but facing Skenes on the road in a day game is a tall order. Lean Pirates, 3-1, but if Gasser is locked in and the Brewers can scratch across runs early, this one is very much winnable.