The recent home series against the Colorado Rockies wasn't much fun.
The consolation was that it didn't count for as much as some others, being against a division leader in a different division. There will be no more home games against this opponent and only three more (road) games in the season.
That said, the remainder of the homestand IS of inordinate importance because it will show what the Pirates can (or can't) do against division rivals against whom they play the most games. Moreover, Milwaukee and Cincinnati are teams that have given the Bucs trouble in the past.
Of the two teams, Milwaukee is the tougher for the Pirates. In the past two seasons, the Pittsburghers have won only five games each in the season series. That's not great, but it's better than the 1-15 tally the Bucs posted in 2008.
In 2009, the Pirates actually won the home season series against the Brewers 5-3, then lost every game in Miller Park. In 2010, the Pittsburghers were subjected to the indignity of two more defeats in PNC Park including a humiliating series in which they were outscored 36-1, but got revenge by winning two games on the road.
By contrast, the Pirates had a not-too-bad season series against the Reds, 6-10, which was better than their record as a whole. These included two close games that they could have won for an 8-8 tally. Moreover, the Bucs won their first three games at home against Cincinnati last year.
As it were, middle-ranking Pittsburgh and Milwaukee appear fairly evenly-matched teams based on what has happened so far in the season. Both have taken two of three from the Chicago Cubs. Both have lost series to division leaders Colorado and Cincinnati and both have won series from lesser teams in St. Louis and Atlanta.
On the whole, Milwaukee has hit better and Pittsburgh has pitched better so far.
But the home team has some grounds for optimism, besides playing at home. Their starters in this series are double winner, Kevin Correia, as well as Paul Maholm and Charlie Morton, both of whom pitch well at home.
Also of note is that the Pirates are not likely to be facing either Yovanni Gallardo or Zack Greinke this series.
On the other hand, Milwaukee comes into town knowing that they are the visitors—and if they come away with one win out of three, on the road, without their aces, they're not doing too badly. For Pittsburgh, this is more of a "must-win" situation, which puts the pressure on them.
If the Pirates do well against Milwaukee, the next series against Cincinnati could be a fight at the top of the division. The Reds have a better team on paper, but you can't rule out the Pittsburghers, at least in PNC Park.
In the unlikely event that they won all six games, they would be atop the National League Central. More realistically, if they won four out of six, they would remain in a tight race for the number two spot in their division.
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