Covering the bases 9/6/2025: Brewers 4, Pirates 1
The Milwaukee Brewers continued to dominate the Pittsburgh Pirates, beating them 4-0 on Saturday at PNC Park. It raised the Brewers' record in the season series to 9-3, their most against any team they have played, and the seventh straight win over the Pirates. The Brewers, who have MLB's best record at 88-55, saw their lead in the NL Central over the second-place Chicago Cubs increase to 6½ games. The Cubs lost to the Washington Nationals 2-1. The win reduced the Brewers' magic number for clinching a playoff berth to five, following the San Francisco Giants' 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
FIRST BASE: Ashby finishes it off
Following a six-inning start, the Brewers' bullpen was asked to cover three innings – and it was no problem. It was a combo effort as four relievers were called upon, with left-hander Aaron Ashby going the last 1⅔. Right-hander Erick Fedde got two outs in the seventh, then left-hander Rob Zastryzny got the final out. Right-hander Tobias Myers started the eighth and allowed one hit and a walk while getting on out, then Ashby got a double-play grounder to end the eighth and went back out for the ninth. After yielding a leadoff walk to Bryan Reynolds, Nick Gonzales hit a ground-rule double to left-center with one out. Oneil Cruz grounded to second base to break up the shutout, but Ashby then struck out Nick Yorke to end it.
SECOND BASE: Chourio chimes in
It has been a little slow for Jackson Chourio in his first week since returning from the injured list following a hamstring injury. Chourio, who hit the first pitch he saw upon his return for a homer on Aug. 30, hit his first homer since, a two-run insurance blow in the top of the eighth inning.
THIRD BASE: Bauers again
A day after having the go-ahead hit, Jake Bauers struck again. This time, he left the yard. Bauers broke up a scoreless game with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning off Pirates starter Mitch Keller. It was the sixth homer of the season for Bauers. Bauers went 2-for-3, marking the first time he had multiple hits in back-to-back games this season.
HOME PLATE: Wonderful Woodruff
Coming off his worst outing of the season, right-handed Brandon Woodruff reminded Brewers fans of his vintage form. Woodruff allowed just two hits over six shutout innings, walking none and striking out eight. It was his best performance since returning from shoulder surgery late in the 2023 season. In fact, Woodruff retired 15 straight after allowing a two-out single to Bryan Reynolds in the first inning until Jared Triolo's two-out single in the sixth, his next-to-last batter faced.
EXTRA BASES: Miz in finale
⚾ The learning curve for rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 4.50 ERA) takes another step when he starts the series finale today. The Pirates said postgame that rookie right-hander Bubba Chandler (2-0, 2.25 ERA) will get the start. In his last start, Misiorowski went 4⅓ innings, throwing 73 pitches, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four in a 10-8 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Labor Day. Chandler will be making his first MLB start, but appearing in his fourth game. Chandler began his career with a four-inning save, then two four-inning relief appearances in which he earned wins. He has walked one and struck out nine in his three games.
⚾ Outfielder Christian Yelich was again not part of the Brewers' lineup, marking the fourth straight game he has missed due to back soreness.
⚾ Right-handed reliever Grant Anderson was sent to Triple-A Nashville for what is expected to be a one-game rehab assignment. Anderson, who has tendinitis in his right ankle, would rejoin the Brewers when they travel to the Texas Rangers beginning Monday. Also, right-hander Trevor Megill had a second bullpen session Saturday, where he threw about 30 pitches. Megill told Brewers sideline reporter Sophia Minnaert that he will have a live session Tuesday and could be back after that.
