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Brewers happy to be facing Pirates

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:23 AM Pittsburgh (57-71) at Milwaukee (74-55) 7:05 p.m. EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers are happy to have several games remaining against the Pittsburgh Pirates as they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot.

The Brewers go for their seventh win in eight games against the Pirates on Saturday.

Milwaukee sits 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs (78-50) in the National League Central, but owns a 2 1/2-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals (72-58) in the wild-card race.

With over a month left in the season and eight games left against Pittsburgh, the Brewers appear poised to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 1982. Milwaukee has won 10 straight games at home against the Pirates and have outscored them, 47-23, in winning six of the last seven meetings.

Despite the successful results against the Pirates, Brewers manager Ned Yost isn't underestimating them or any other team.

"You can't take this club (Pittsburgh) lightly at all," Yost said. "We still have eight games with these guys. Good teams keep the pedal to the metal, especially at this time of year, against everybody they play. They're all the same; they're all capable of beating you every single night."

Jeff Suppan (8-7, 4.62 ERA), who is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in August, goes for his fourth straight winning decision when he takes the mound for the Brewers.

Tom Gorzelanny (6-7, 6.57) counters for the Pirates in place of Jeff Karstens, who had his start pushed back to Monday.