They did this without numerous pieces expected to carry them.
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Matheny said he would like to see Wainwright pitch in a more stressful scenario during a three-game series against the Braves at Atlanta before determining whether the 34-year-old will be part of the bullpen in the postseason.
Andrew McCutchen has been one of the best players for the Pirates all year, but he has been struggling at the plate recently. With all the additions that the Pirates made to their roster after losing so much from last year’s team, 96-wins (to date) is a pretty remarkable accomplishment. Matt Adams, the big-swinging first baseman of the future, went on the DL with a complete quad tear in late May. Jon Jay replaced Piscotty in left field.
“It’s the first step”, said Heyward, acquired in an offseason trade from Atlanta.
And win they did. Tyler Lyons threw seven innings of shutout baseball and only allowed four hits en route to the victory. Chase Anderson and three relievers combined on a five-hitter. As of right now, Game 1 of the NLCS could be played in St. Louis, New York, or Los Angeles.
Weather has forced the team into a double-header situation as they prepare to face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a tough matchup in the National League.
The Redbirds (somehow) added to their arsenal in the second half, getting elite production from call-ups Stephen Piscotty and Tommy Pham.
Assuming the Pirates do not win the Central, they are also battling the Cubs for home-field advantage in the Wild Card game.
The win gave the Cardinals their 10th division title in the last 20 seasons. This is the format in 2015, and if a team wants more than one game, it’s simple: Don’t lose the wild-card game or win more games in the regular season.
The Pirates went into this three-game set with a chance to force a first-place tie in the NL Central, but the Cardinals took two of three and clinched the division. He last pitched in relief during the 2006 season when he was on the mound to close out both the World Series and National League Championship Series. Martinez left his start September 25 against Milwaukee with a strained right shoulder.
Many Pittsburgh Pirates fans had not yet filed in their seats by the time Charlie Morton was removed from the game.
The Cubs, who were 2 1/2 games back of Pittsburgh after Wednesday’s 10-3 win over the Reds, have secured their first appearance in the postseason since 2008. He got on base twice that way tonight. If you think the division is good now, just wait a few years when the young talent of the Cubs and Pirates fully develops.
Jason Heyward #22 of the St Louis Cardinals is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam home run…
Minnesota won the first game as Joe Mauer and Byron Buxton homered, and Torii Hunter drove in three runs in support of right-hander Kyle Gibson. Mercer flied into an inning-ending double play. The Royals are one back of Toronto for home-field edge throughout the AL playoffs. It was the other side of the Cardinal coin, a team that, though they looked relentless a night before, seemed lost on offense and eminently beatable.
Wacha allowed six runs, four hits and four walks in four innings. He achieved that mark in just 81 pitches, outperforming any regular starter against Pittsburgh. But Heyward kind of overshadowed the performance, with a single, double, a grand slam, as well as elite run preventing defense. It took 159 games, but the Pirates finally relented.
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Not long after the Cardinals’ 3-0 victory, Cesario received a text from Piscotty’s father saying a Connecticut scan of the player’s head and neck was clear.
