The upcoming matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 24, 2025, at American Family Field promises an intriguing National League Central showdown between a team battling for playoff positioning and one still searching for consistency. The Brewers enter the game with a solid 43–36 record and will look to lean on the home-field advantage that has served them well this season, especially behind the electric pitching of Freddy Peralta, who brings a 6–5 record and an impressive 2.76 ERA into this start. Milwaukee is one of the stronger home teams in the league, boasting a 23–16 record in their ballpark, and their 14–10 record in one-run games suggests they’re adept in close contests. Offensively, they’re led by Christian Yelich, who has provided a combination of power and veteran poise with 14 home runs and a .259 batting average, while young star Jackson Chourio is proving his value with 12 home runs and a .260 average. Their lineup is capable of stringing together runs in bursts, and their bullpen has been among the more reliable units in the National League. On the other side, the Pirates, sitting at 32–48, come into the contest with hopes of halting a downward spiral that’s been characterized by inconsistent pitching and scattered offensive production. Andrew Heaney takes the hill for Pittsburgh, entering with a 3–6 record and 3.94 ERA; while he’s shown flashes of dominance, he’ll need pinpoint command to contain Milwaukee’s hitters in this park.

The Pirates do have some bright spots, including Andrew McCutchen, who recently passed Roberto Clemente on the franchise’s all-time home run list, and Oneil Cruz, a dynamic player who can impact the game with both power and speed. However, the Pirates have struggled mightily on the road, with a poor 11–27 record away from PNC Park, and their overall 30–37 ATS mark suggests issues covering spreads in various situations. Despite these struggles, their recent 4–1 ATS surge over their last five games could indicate a team playing with a bit more confidence. The key to this matchup could come down to the early innings—if Milwaukee can get to Heaney early and build a lead, their bullpen should be able to close it out with minimal risk, but if Pittsburgh can scratch out a few runs and keep it close, their underdog status becomes far more appealing in the betting markets. This is a classic test of momentum versus consistency, with the Brewers looking to maintain their playoff pace and the Pirates hoping to play spoiler and establish a building block for the second half of the season. Both teams have something to prove and this divisional clash should produce some spirited baseball with tight margins and strategic battles throughout the game.