The moment all NL Central fans have predicted is finally here. The Chicago Cubs are in the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to capitalize on their first 98-win season since 1991.
With the newly designed playoff format, the marathon MLB season comes down to just one play-in wild card game on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.
What will it take for each team to prevail? Let’s find out.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 98-64
Bullpen
Can the best bullpen in the MLB really make a difference in a single play-in game? You bet.
While most of the talk has revolved around the starters for both teams, it is extremely doubtful they will go all nine innings. The Pirates bullpen had a league best 2.69 ERA and Mark Melancon, their closer, had 50 saves. If the Pirates can somehow take a lead deep into the game, look for the bullpen to shut the door.
Home field advantage
Tied for second in the league with the most home wins during the 2015 season (53), Pittsburgh knows how to feed off their home environment. Home field advantage plays an integral role in all sports, but none more than a one game winner-moves-on situation. Up until two years ago, the Pirates were on a 20-year playoff hiatus, so you know PNC Park will be rocking.
“We have a better chance to win here than anyplace else,” Clint Hurdle said, via Bucs Dugout. “Our pitchers like pitching here; our hitters like hitting here.”
The Pirates can feed off the crowd’s energy in high pressure situations, giving them a very serious home field advantage.
Aramis Ramirez: 3B, .246
When Jung Ho Kang’s season came to an end in September after breaking his leg and tearing his MCL in a collision with Chris Coghlan of the Chicago Cubs, Pirates faithful worried that their magical run could come to an end.
But enter the wily veteran Aramis Ramirez, who joined the Bucs at the trade deadline. Since Kang’s injury, Ramirez has been splitting time at 3B with Neil Walker but is expected to make the start in the play-in game. In his four playoffs series, Ramirez has provided unbelievable defense and a .732 OPS. His productivity and leadership could help the Pirates advance to the second round come Wednesday.
Chicago Cubs: 97-65
Joe Maddon
In his first year, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has proved a real difference for the North Siders. His nontraditional coaching techniques (batting the pitcher in the eighth position and making defensive substations extremely early in games) and his laid back mentality makes him an easy coach to play for.
Plus, Maddon has significant playoff experience and won the AL Pennant in 2008 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Maddon knows his team better than any coach in the MLB and his players love playing for him. If the game gets dicey, Maddon will calm his players down and make the game more manageable for his squad.
The Young Studs
Typically youth can hurt playoff-bound teams, and teams with savvy veterans usually have an edge to make a deep playoff run. But for a one game, winner-take-all mentality, the young studs for the Cubs could raise the energy level.
Rookies Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Javier Baez have all stepped up and proved they can play in the big game. Bryant, Schwarber and Russell are starters for the Cubbies and will need to produce if they want to travel to St. Louis for the NLDS.
Yes, these are the guys who will need to produce in order for Chicago to advance:
Rookie dress up! pic.twitter.com/0BQ9mcyb6w
— Kyle Schwarber (@kschwarb12) October 1, 2015
Jake Arrieta: 22-6, 1.77 ERA
Without a doubt the biggest difference-maker on both teams is Arrieta, who has complete control over the outcome of the game.
The Cubs were able to line up Arrieta, who was 16-1 with an 0.86 ERA in his final 20 starts, for the wild card game. There were talks up until a couple weeks ago if Arrieta or Jon Lester would start, but that discussion was all but over once Arrieta threw his no-hitter on August 30 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With arguably the best out pitch in all of baseball — his curveball — and his complete and utter dominance in the second half of the season, the Cubs should feel nothing but confidence sending him to the mound for the must-win game.