MLB: Cubs and Pirates face off in NLDS Wild Card game

thedrumbeat

Tonight the Chicago Cubs take their talents to Pittsburg to take on the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Tonights winner will determine who faces the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the playoffs.

The Chicago Cubs come into the series 97-65. They are 3rd in the NL Central Division behind the Pittsburg Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Pittsburg Pirates come into the series 98-64. They are 2nd in the NL Central Division behind the St. Louis Cardinals.

The game starts at 7:08 p.m. and will be broadcasted on TBS.

Starting Lineup

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs’ Projected Starting Lineup

Order
Player
Bats
Slash Line
wRC+
PA

1
CF Dexter Fowler
S
.250/.346/.411
110
690

2
RF Kyle Schwarber
L
.246/.355/.487
131
273

3
LF Kris Bryant
R
.275/.369/.488
136
650

4
1B Anthony Rizzo
L
.278/.387/.512
145
701

5
2B Starlin Castro
R
.265/.296/.375
80
578

6
C Miguel Montero
L
.248/.345/.409
107
403

7
SS Addison Russell
R
.242/.307/.389
90
523

92
3B Tommy La Stella
L
.269/.324/.403
99
75

Projected starting lineup courtesy Grantland.com

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Projected Starting Lineup

Order
Player
Bats
Slash Line
wRC+
PA

1
RF Gregory Polanco
L
.256/.320/.381
94
652

2
3B Josh Harrison
R
.287/.327/.390
101
449

3
CF Andrew McCutchen
R
.292/.401/.488
146
685

4
2B Neil Walker
S
.269/.328/.427
108
603

5
LF Starling Marte
R
.287/.337/.444
117
633

6
1B Pedro Alvarez
L
.243/.318/.469
114
491

7
C Francisco Cervelli
R
.295/.370/.401
119
510

8
SS Jordy Mercer
R
.244/.293/.320
68
430

Projected starting lineup courtesy Grantland.com

KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: REDS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEX DIAZ/BRADENTON HERALD (KRT150) BRADENTON, FLORIDA March 6-- Cincinnati Reds cathcher Benito Santiago, left, can't make the play at home as the Pittsburgh Pirates Bruce Aven slides past him to score. The Reds lost to the Pirates 11-4 on Monday afternoon at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida. (BR) PL KD 2000 (Horiz) (lde) — REDS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEX DIAZ/BRADENTON HERALD (KRT150) BRADENTON, FLORIDA March 6– Cincinnati Reds cathcher Benito Santiago, left, can’t make the play at home as the Pittsburgh Pirates Bruce Aven slides past him to score. The Reds lost to the Pirates 11-4 on Monday afternoon at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida. (BR) PL KD 2000 (Horiz) (lde)

Conclusion

The Pirates are going to win tonight’s matchup due to the fact that they have been here in this place before and their stars are not afraid of the moment. But yet, at the same time, they are hungry to win a world series and bring a championship to Pittsburgh. They are calling tonight’s matchup the best in the opening round from the standpoint of the starting pitchers going against each other. Tonight game should be very entertaining