Geoff JohnsonThe Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are set to meet in the National League Wild Card Game, Tuesday at 8:07 PM ET at PNC Park. Winner advances and the loser goes home.
This will be the Pirates first playoffs participation since 1992, and they aim to do it at home. They went 5-4 at home against the Reds and 50-31 overall in the season when playing in Pittsburgh; that was the third best mark of the National League.
“It’s going to be a really exciting time,” Pittsburgh Neil Walker said. “Something a lot of people haven’t experienced with Pirate baseball. I imagine it’s going to be Steeler-esque on Tuesday.
The Pirates will give lefty Francisco Liriano (16-8) the chance to be on the mountain for Tuesday. He ended with eight wins and one loss when playing at the PNC Park, but 0-3 in the four games he faced the Reds.
Liriano is good against lefties, and the Reds batting lineup has plenty of them.
Cincinnati will put Johnny Cueto (5-2) in the one playoffs game they must win. Cueto battled with strained right lat muscle all season, but it seems as he has the confidence from manager Dusty Baker to make the opener.
Baker added that Mat Latos was on schedule to start for Cincinnati, but he developed a sore arm.
The Reds are 13-7 against the Pirates in the postseason. Keep in mind before placing your bet that four game straight have gone under the total between these two ball clubs when playing at PNC Park.
