MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers appear to be playing their best baseball of the season — they're coming off a 5-4 road trip through New York, Philadelphia and Houston — entering Monday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It kicks off a seven-game homestand for the Brewers at Miller Park.

After a 2-6 start to the season, Milwaukee is 8-10. And the Brewers will face a Pirates team that is riding an upturn in form as well. Pittsburgh is 11-7, having won seven of nine. The last time Pittsburgh was four games over .500 this late in the season was April 30, 2002, when it was 14-10.

However, Milwaukee has won 12 straight over Pittsburgh and 15 straight at Miller Park against the Pirates. The Brewers play 13 of their next 17 games at home, so this would seem to be a chance for them to climb above .500.

We're about 3 1/2 hours away from the first pitch, with Braden Looper (2-0) starting for the Brewers and Jeff Karstens (1-0) going for the Pirates.