MLB Playoff Preview:

Wild Card Round

National League
October is right around the corner and with it comes
postseason baseball.
For the first time in 21 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates
have made the playoffs. They will be hosting the
Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night for the first playoff
game ever played at PNC Park.
The two teams faced each other in the last series of the
regular season, with the Pirates sweeping the Reds.
Tuesdays match up will have Reds starter Johnny
Cueto (5-2) on the mound against the Pirates. Cueto
was placed on the disabled list three times this regular
season with back injuries, missing about two months
of playing time. The Pirates will have their own
Dominican, Francisco Liriano (16-8), facing off on
their end for the win-or-go-home decisive Wild Card
Game.
Pirates ace, Francisco Liriano looks to hold down
Joey Votto (.305 BA) and company, who were 11th best
in runs scored this season.
The Reds, who have three of their starting pitchers on
the disabled list, will be facing red hot hitters in
Pittsburgh with players like Andrew McCutchen (.316
BA) and NL home-run leader (36) Pedro Alvarez.

The Cincinnati Reds look to end a five game losing

streak on the road, while the Pirates look to extend
their playoff push by carrying their momentum into
Tuesday night.
The winner of the Wild Card game then travels to St.
Louis, Thursday night where they will take on the
Cardinals (97-65) who won home field advantage
throughout the NL Division Series.