The May 24, 2025 matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park brings together two NL Central foes heading in slightly different directions, yet both hungry for wins to spark midseason momentum. The Brewers, at 25–27, have hovered just below the .500 mark all season, showing flashes of competitiveness but struggling to sustain consistency in both their pitching and offense. Offensively, Milwaukee has relied on timely contributions from Christian Yelich, who despite being past his MVP peak remains a dependable presence at the top of the lineup, and William Contreras, who has emerged as one of the better offensive catchers in the league with his balanced approach and run-producing capability. The Brewers’ lineup is still trying to find its rhythm, often relying on small-ball tactics and aggressive baserunning rather than explosive power, which puts more pressure on their pitching staff to keep games within reach. On the mound, Quinn Priester is expected to get the start, and although still young, he’s flashed enough promise to justify consistent opportunities in the rotation. Priester’s ability to mix pitches and induce ground balls makes him an ideal fit for road starts in pitcher-friendly parks like PNC, especially against a Pirates offense that has struggled with consistency of its own. Milwaukee has gone 60% ATS in its last five meetings against Pittsburgh, and that recent track record, along with the Pirates’ current 18–34 record, gives the Brewers reason to feel confident entering this matchup.

On the other side, the Pirates continue to battle through growing pains with a roster built around developing talent, occasional veteran leadership, and the hope that their young core will eventually evolve into a contender. At 18–34, Pittsburgh has had a tough time closing games, especially when the offense fails to generate early pressure, but they’ve played more competitively at home, going 11–14 at PNC Park. Mitch Keller is the likely starter and remains the ace of the staff, carrying the burden of anchoring a rotation that lacks depth and consistency. He’s shown the ability to dominate lineups when he commands his fastball and gets ahead in counts, but too often has had to battle from behind, leaving little margin for error. Offensively, the Pirates have leaned on the athleticism and pop of players like Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, both of whom have had strong stretches but haven’t been able to carry the offense on a nightly basis. The Pirates’ bullpen has shown some improvement with recent call-ups, and defensively they’ve worked to clean up early-season issues that cost them several close games. Still, until Pittsburgh can generate more offense and string together consistent outings from its pitching staff, they’ll remain vulnerable, particularly in divisional matchups like this. For Milwaukee, this is the kind of series they must capitalize on if they hope to stay relevant in a division that remains up for grabs. If Priester can hold the Pirates in check through the middle innings and the offense can scratch out early runs, the Brewers will be in strong position to secure a critical road win and move one step closer to .500.