The May 22, 2025 matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park kicks off a crucial four-game series between two National League Central clubs looking to build momentum and climb the standings in a division that remains wide open entering late May. The Brewers come in with a 24–26 record and are trending in the right direction after a string of competitive performances, having covered the spread in four of their last five games. Their pitching staff has been the backbone of their success, boasting a 3.58 team ERA that ranks fifth in Major League Baseball, and they’ve leaned heavily on quality starts and bullpen efficiency to stay afloat despite offensive inconsistencies. On the road, Milwaukee has struggled to find consistency with a 9–16 mark, but recent outings suggest they’re improving, and they’ll view this series as an opportunity to turn things around away from home. Offensively, the Brewers are averaging 4.14 runs per game, a middle-of-the-pack number fueled by the leadership and production of Christian Yelich and William Contreras. Yelich remains a steady veteran presence, contributing in all facets of the game, while Contreras has been one of the team’s most consistent bats behind the plate, delivering timely hits and managing a young pitching staff with poise. Milwaukee’s formula for winning relies on keeping games close, limiting big innings, and capitalizing on mistakes, especially with their improved defense and reliable bullpen. The Brewers are 7–3 in games where the total has gone UNDER in recent weeks, a sign of their comfort in low-scoring, well-pitched contests.

On the other side, the Pittsburgh Pirates enter at 10–15 and are desperately trying to build consistency, especially at home, where they’ve struggled to find rhythm both offensively and on the mound. Pittsburgh has gone 2–4 against the spread in their last six games and continues to be plagued by a lack of offensive firepower, averaging just 3.96 runs per game and relying heavily on Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz to carry the lineup. Reynolds provides steady production in the middle of the order with gap power and a solid approach, while Cruz offers dynamic speed and occasional pop but is still developing into a consistent offensive threat. The Pirates’ pitching staff owns a 4.24 ERA and has had difficulty stringing together quality starts, which has increased pressure on a bullpen that hasn’t been able to hold many late-inning leads. With Milwaukee’s strength being pitching and Pittsburgh’s offense struggling to produce, the edge on paper clearly leans toward the Brewers, especially if they can score early and hand a lead to their bullpen. However, PNC Park remains a tough place to play, and if the Pirates can get a strong outing from their starter and apply pressure on the basepaths, they may be able to disrupt the Brewers’ rhythm and steal the opener. This series presents an opportunity for Milwaukee to make up ground in the standings and for Pittsburgh to prove they can be more than spoilers. Both teams are hungry, the stakes are rising, and with playoff positioning beginning to take shape, each inning of this series will matter. Expect a close, strategic contest dominated by pitching and defense unless one lineup finds an early spark and shifts the tone.