Pittsburgh Pirates Back In Playoff Hunt, Although Division Title Remains A Dream

Matt Gajtka

Aug 24, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte (6) is greeted by first baseman Pedro Alvarez (24) after hitting a two-run homer in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It feels harsh to mention after an encouraging weekend in Milwaukee, but the Pittsburgh Pirates really could’ve used a sweep at Miller Park.

With just five weeks to go in the regular season, the Bucs (67-63) trail the first-place Brewers (72-58) by five games in the National League Central. The deficit would’ve been a more manageable three if the Pirates could’ve shrugged off an early deficit for the third day in a row.

Now, with 32 games to play, it’s a stretch to say the Bucs are true contenders for the division title. With the Brewers and Cardinals (70-59) battling it out near the top of the Central, the NL wild-card chase remains a more feasible goal for the black and gold.

But let’s not bury the lead. Pittsburgh accomplished a lot by taking two out of three from Milwaukee, including turning the page on an ugly seven-game losing streak that threatened to capsize the season.

More from Pittsburgh Pirates

With a rare series victory in Wisconsin, the Pirates have climbed within 1 1/2 games of the Giants (68-61) for the league’s final playoff spot. The Braves (68-63) remain in the way, but a second consecutive postseason berth no longer feels like a mere dream as it did early last week.

Moreover, for as important as the Brewers series was, the upcoming three-gamer against St. Louis at PNC Park carries even more significance. The Pirates are 3 1/2 games behind the Cardinals prior to Monday night’s series opener, so a couple more wins would go a long way this week.

The Redbirds could be vulnerable at the moment, as they are coming off a series loss to last-place Philadelphia over the weekend. Also, Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole are scheduled to start the first two games of this week’s Central showdown, giving Pittsburgh a matchup edge until Adam Wainwright gets the call Wednesday afternoon.

So the most important part of the season continues for the Pirates, aided by a positive performance in Milwaukee. If they make the playoffs, it’s unlikely they’ll avoid the winner-take-all wild-card game, but beggars can’t be choosers at this point.

Matt Gajtka

With experience working inside the sports industry and as an independent media member, Matt brings his unique viewpoint to City of Champions. As co-editor and lead writer, he oversees all content on the site while also lending his own perspective.