Milwaukee eyes a milestone as they host Pittsburgh on Monday, chased by a heavy favorites tag on the best betting sites. Jose Quintana gets the ball for the Brewers against Andrew Heaney, a setup that could push Milwaukee to 30 games above .500. The Brewers have surged to the top of the NL Central, building a six-game cushion, while Pittsburgh sits at the cellar of the division. William Contreras has become a nightly power threat, and his +400 homer prop looms large as Heaney remains susceptible to the long ball. Milwaukee's nine-game win streak adds confidence that the home team can punch the run-line ticket in a divisional opener that figures to tilt in Milwaukee's direction.

Contreras has heated up, homering in consecutive games and riding a .354 clip with a 1.217 OPS over the past two weeks. Heaney has been spring-loaded for damage, with 22 home runs allowed in 23 appearances, a key factor in why Contreras and Milwaukee’s lineup could cash in again. Quintana, meanwhile, has steadied the rotation, delivering a 12-5 mark in 2025 and keeping earned runs at bay in most outings. With Milwaukee favored to win and the Pirates' offense among the league’s weakest, the evening shapes as a pragmatic play for bettors chasing a comfortable Brewers win at home.

Run-line and bullpen dynamics enhance the case: Milwaukee sits among the league’s best at covering the run line, while Pittsburgh has struggled to plate runs consistently. The matchup is favorable for Quintana to stitch together another solid start, and Contreras’ hot streak offers a clear path to offensive upside. The betting markets have Milwaukee as a secure favorite, and the composite factors—streak, rotation depth, and power from Contreras—underscore why Monday night could feel like a continuation of Milwaukee’s late-season surge.

Milwaukee hosts Pittsburgh in a Monday showdown with Andrew Heaney on the hill for the Pirates against Jose Quintana for the Brewers. Milwaukee has rattled off nine straight wins after sweeping the Mets, Braves, and Nationals, and sits 6-3 at home in the second half. The odds tilt heavily toward the Brewers (-207) on the moneyline with a -1.5 spread, while the total sits at 8.0.

The NBC model slots Milwaukee as the projection edge, with the Pirates at +1.5 on the spread. Pittsburgh is 4-6 in its last 10, and has only seven road games since the break, going 4-2 in those. Milwaukee has crushed NL foes (9-0 in its last nine vs NL teams) and rides momentum into this divisional clash. Fantasy angles hinge on Quintana's steady output against a right-handed Pittsburgh lineup and Heaney's ability to limit damage in a park that favors Milwaukee’s bats.

Rotoworld coverage and NBC bets emphasize Milwaukee’s current form and the reliability of Quintana, while Heaney looms as a potential surprise if he keeps the ball in the yard and avoids the big inning. Watch early offense, bullpen matchups, and in-game updates for value once first pitch is thrown. Catch first pitch at American Family Field as these two clubs chase important divisional wins.

The Cincinnati Reds outslugged the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-8 to take a 2-2 split in the four-game set. Miguel Andújar delivered his first Reds homer, a three-run shot that sparked a four-run second inning, and he helped spark a decisive rally in the sixth. Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte each collected three hits and four RBIs, with Steer delivering a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth and a two-run homer in the eighth, while Marte added a tiebreaking double in the sixth and belted a three-run homer in the ninth. Elly De La Cruz and Andújar started the sixth with back-to-back singles to breathe life into Cincinnati. Pittsburgh mounted a late charge, cutting the deficit to 9-8 in the eighth, but Graham Ashcraft struck out Jared Triolo with a runner aboard to quell the threat. The Reds piled on with a five-run ninth as Marte launched a three-run homer. The game featured 30 total hits, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa leading Pittsburgh with three hits and two RBIs. Reds pitcher Zach Littell gave up four runs in 1 1/3 innings, while Cincinnati starter Zach Littell and Scott Barlow (6-0) were part of a rocky early stretch for the Reds' bullpen. Cincinnati stretched its streak of not being swept in 40 straight series dating back to last season, and now heads into a three-game home set with Philadelphia behind Andrew Abbott in a marquee pitching matchup against Taijuan Walker.

The 2025 trade deadline saw the Pittsburgh Pirates at the center of controversy, not for their notable transaction of All-Star closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees, but for their inaction regarding other players. Despite Bednar's successful move promising a solid return of three prospects, the Pirates opted not to trade rental players, including pitchers Andrew Heaney and Dennis Santana. Heaney, previously with the Yankees, has struggled this season, while Santana is enjoying a breakout year. His impressive 1.39 ERA and 36 strikeouts further enhanced his trade value, yet the Pirates held onto him, a decision that puzzled many fans. The Pirates' failure to capitalize on Santana's value may leave them empty-handed this winter, ultimately frustrating their fanbase.

The MLB trade deadline approaches, and several starting pitchers are expected to be on the move. Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals tops the list, likely to be traded as he has a player option for 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks should consider dealing Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, both free agents after the season. The Baltimore Orioles are set to part with Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and Tomoyuki Sugano, while Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals is a strong candidate for a trade. Other potential names include Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds and Aaron Civale from the Chicago White Sox.

Alongside these possible trades, there are pitchers who may step into starting roles after trades. This deadline is crucial for teams looking to bolster their rotations for a playoff push. Players like Nestor Cortes from Milwaukee and Patrick Corbin of Texas could also be on the move, impacting the league's pitching landscape significantly.