The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates square off at PNC Park on September 5, 2025, in a matchup that illustrates the stark contrast between a team firmly entrenched in the playoff chase and another embracing the role of spoiler, with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. ET on Apple TV+ and the pitching duel featuring Milwaukee’s Quinn Priester, who has blossomed into a reliable rotation arm since his midseason call-up, against Johan Oviedo, who is trying to stabilize his place in the Pirates’ rotation after returning from injury. Milwaukee arrives at 86–54, boasting the best record in the NL Central, a team identity built on depth, situational hitting, and elite run prevention, while Pittsburgh sits at 63–77 but has surged with renewed energy, recently sweeping the Dodgers and winning 12 of its last 16 games to inject momentum into a season more about development than standings. The Brewers’ offense has thrived on balance rather than sheer star power, with contributions up and down the order, hitters grinding out counts and forcing pitchers to labor, which often sets the stage for late-inning rallies supported by a bullpen that remains one of baseball’s most stable groups; Priester’s emergence has added another layer, as his cutter and curve combination has kept hitters guessing, and his command within the strike zone has improved enough to make him a consistent six-inning option. On the other side, Oviedo’s ability to get ahead in counts will be crucial, because Milwaukee’s hitters punish mistakes when they can dictate at-bats, and his best path lies in inducing ground balls and trusting Pittsburgh’s improving defense, which has played much sharper during the team’s recent winning stretch.

Offensively, the Pirates will need their top-of-the-order bats to pressure Milwaukee early, using aggression on the bases and opportunistic swings to scratch out runs before the Brewers’ bullpen shortens the game, and while Paul Skenes’ dominance has been the headline of late, the lift it has provided to the entire clubhouse has elevated the Pirates’ intensity, giving them the swagger of a team that believes it can disrupt a contender’s rhythm. From a betting perspective, Milwaukee has been one of baseball’s strongest ATS teams at 80–61, winning not just games but often by margin, while Pittsburgh sits at 68–61 ATS, more inconsistent but capable of covering as an underdog, and the Brewers’ 10–5 ATS mark in the last 15 meetings with the Pirates underlines their historical ability to win comfortably in this matchup. Still, divisional games in September rarely come easy, and the Pirates’ combination of youthful energy, recent success, and home-field edge suggests they could keep things tighter than the records imply, especially if Oviedo finds rhythm and the offense cashes in one or two big chances. Ultimately, the Brewers hold the edge with superior pitching depth, more reliable late-game arms, and a lineup less prone to extended slumps, but the Pirates’ confidence makes this a dangerous spot for Milwaukee if they let the game remain close into the late innings, where one swing or a defensive miscue could tilt the outcome, making this series opener far more compelling than the standings suggest.