Game 151: Pirates @ Brewers 09.21.2016

Game Preview:
http://www.espn.com/mlb/preview?gameId=360921108
"Brewers happy to be back at Miller Park
Pittsburgh
Pirates
75-75
7:10 PM CT
Line: PIT -120
Milwaukee
Brewers
68-83
PIT: Kuhl (4-3 , 3.97 ERA) MIL: Nelson (8-14 , 4.42 ERA)
Pick Center
Tickets
12:12 AM CT
STATS LLC
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MILWAUKEE -- Coming from Chicago, where sold-out crowds packed Wrigley Field throughout a four-game weekend series with the NL Central champion Cubs, to Miller Park, where a handful of diehards were on hand Tuesday night to open the final home stand of the season, was certainly a bit of a culture shock for the rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers.
But their job, manager Craig Counsell says, will remain the same over the final few weeks.
"That's part of being a professional," Counsell said Tuesday night after the Brewers came out flat in a 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh. "That's how it works. There's certainly a different atmosphere here than at Wrigley Field. It's a different atmosphere, but it's still a competition."
Even without the crowds and postseason buzz in the air, the Brewers were happy to be back at Miller Park, where they have posted a respectable 39-37 record this season.
"It wasn't as loud, but still, it's nice to come home," first baseman Chris Carter said.
They'll try to get back to their winning ways Wednesday when they continue a three-game series with the Pirates, who are still clinging to slim hopes of gaining a wild-card spot for the third consecutive season.
Pittsburgh will take the field 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second NL spot, with two teams in between.
Right-hander Chad Kuhl takes the mound for his 12th major league start looking to close that gap; he has faced Milwaukee once already this season, allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings but taking no decision in Pittsburgh's 3-2 victory on Aug. 25 at Miller Park.
That loss snapped a nine-game losing streak at Milwaukee; since then, the Pirates have won five in a row at Miller Park, their longest winning streak in Milwaukee since taking six in a row there in 2002.
"You can't really make it too big," Kuhl said. "You just have to treat it like another day; and, once you get out there, it's just you vs. the hitter. You don't make any park or any player bigger than it is."
The Brewers counter with right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who is hoping to finish an up-and-down season on a high note.
He began the year 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA through his first 11 appearances but has gone 3-11 with a 5.57 ERA over his last 19 outings.
Nelson showed signs of improvement Thursday, holding the Cubs to just three runs despite giving up eight hits while striking out seven over six innings in a 5-4 victory that prevented Chicago from clinching the Central Division crown.
Even with the current losing streak to the Pirates, the Brewers have dominated the series with their divisional rivals: Since 2007, Milwaukee is 64-22 against the Pirates at Miller Park and 103-61 against them overall."