2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

bounceback · Jul 7, 2016

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</figcaption></figure><section class="content cf article-bottom" style="margin: 22px auto 0px; padding: 0px 25px 33px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 660px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[FONT=mlb_primary !important]By Adam Berry and Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com | July 6th, 2016 <button class="comment-button" style="margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border: none; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: mlb_primary; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 5px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">+
5 COMMENTS</button>
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ST. LOUIS -- The Pirates and Cardinals bisected one another in the National League Central standings on Wednesday night as two clubs going in drastically opposing directions.
Pittsburgh vaulted past St. Louis and into second place with its sixth consecutive come-from-behind victory, this one a 7-5 win at Busch Stadium. For the Cardinals, the loss stung arguably more than any other this season. Not only did they waste away a four-run lead, but the Cards did so after watching All-Star second baseman Matt Carpenter leave with a right oblique injury.
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The Cardinals, led by Aledmys Diaz's 3-for-5, two-RBI night, built a lead against Pirates starter Jeff Locke, who surrendered four runs as the Cardinals batted around in the fourth. Most of those contributions came from players subbing for others who are injured. Fill-in first baseman Jedd Gyorko drove in one, as did Carpenter's replacement, Kolten Wong. Greg Garcia, starting in place of an injured Jhonny Peralta, singled and scored.
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</figcaption></figure>But Pittsburgh battled back against an unsettled Cardinals bullpen to improve to 8-4 against St. Louis this season. Holding a 5-1 lead, Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia walked the first two batters he faced in the sixth. That prompted Garcia's exit; Josh Harrison and Sean Rodriguez followed with RBI singles off reliever Matt Bowman. Jung Ho Kang's two-run double an inning later sealed the comeback win.

The surging Pirates have won 10 of their last 12 to shave 5 1/2 games off the Cubs' divisional lead. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have lost 10 straight home games to teams with records above .500.
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</figcaption></figure>MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Comeback kids: Down 5-1 after four innings, the Pirates may have had the Cardinals right where they wanted them. Rodriguez homered in the fifth and slapped an RBI single to right in a two-run sixth, then Ho Kang delivered the go-ahead hit, a two-run double to right-center offJonathan Broxton in the Bucs' three-run seventh.
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</figcaption></figure>Concern for Carpenter: Carpenter, the Cardinals' best offensive player over the first half, had to exit the game after suffering a right oblique strain on a third-inning, checked swing. The Cardinals later announced that Carpenter had been sent away for further tests. Carpenter has been the offense's catalyst over the first half, and he was to be the team's lone representative at next week's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. More >
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</figcaption></figure>What, no ovation? Recognized with a standing ovation in each of his first four games at his former home ballpark, a response the former Cardinal humbly called "almost embarrassing,"David Freese received no such welcome when he stepped to the plate in the first inning. With no applause to wait out, Freese wasted little time as he slammed Garcia's first pitch over the left-center-field fence for his ninth home run of the season.
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</figcaption></figure>Where's the relief? The Cardinals' bullpen has been in flux since Trevor Rosenthal was removed from the closer's role and left-handed setup man Kevin Siegrist was placed on the disabled list. The shuffling has led to some unsettled roles, and that was evident on Wednesday. Bowman, pitching in the sort of fireman role that used to belong to Seth Maness, came on in the sixth with the Cardinals nursing a 5-2 lead. He allowed two inherited runners to score. Broxton took the loss by giving up three seventh-inning runs.
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</figcaption></figure>SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Wednesday's loss was the Cardinals' 26th at home this season, matching their season total from a year ago. The club's 18 home wins rank 26th in the Majors, ahead of only Oakland, Los Angeles (AL), Arizona and Atlanta.
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</figcaption></figure>UPON FURTHER REVIEW
A successful challenged helped the Cardinals turn a two-run fourth into a four-run inning. After a one-minute, 35-second review, it was determined that Wong slid into first to beat out a bunt single. He had initially been ruled as the third out of the inning. By reversing the call, the Cardinals scored one run. Diaz followed with another two-out RBI hit to increase the lead to 4-1.
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</figcaption></figure>WHAT'S NEXT
Pirates: Pirates top prospect Tyler Glasnow will make his Major League debut when the Pirates and Cardinals wrap up their four-game series at 12:45 p.m. ET on Thursday at Busch Stadium. Glasnow was 7-2 with a 1.78 ERA, 113 strikeouts and 52 walks in 96 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Cardinals: The Cardinals will close out their final homestand of the first half with Thursday's matinee game against Pittsburgh. It will be Adam Wainwright's 26th career start vs. the Pirates, against whom he is 11-7 with a 4.30 career ERA. With a victory, he would move into sole possession of seventh place on the franchise's all-time wins list.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

Adam Berry has covered the Pirates for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter at@adamdberry.

Jenifer Langosch has covered the Cardinals for MLB.com since 2012, and previously covered the Pirates from 2007-11. Read her blog, follow her on Twitter, like her Facebook page and listen to her podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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bounceback · Jul 7, 2016

7th straight win....Buccos are rollin'

bounceback · Jul 7, 2016

Pirates: Pirates top prospect Tyler Glasnow will make his Major League debut when the Pirates and Cardinals wrap up their four-game series at 12:45 p.m. ET on Thursday at Busch Stadium. Glasnow was 7-2 with a 1.78 ERA, 113 strikeouts and 52 walks in 96 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.

bounceback · Jul 7, 2016

Lets go baby........Glassnow coming up. A lot of good young arms all of a sudden and our bullpen is on FIRE.......

This team isn't going away........

bounceback · Jul 7, 2016

<header class="article-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px; max-width: 640px; position: relative; z-index: 1000034; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ST. LOUIS -- Jung Ho Kang is playing while under investigation for sexual assault , and the Pirates infielder helped Pittsburgh climb in the standings Wednesday night.</header>Kang drove in two key runs with a seventh-inning double a day after Chicago police announced their investigation, and Pittsburgh beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 on Wednesday night for its sixth straight comeback win.

Kang's double off Jonathan Broxton (1-1) put the Pirates up 6-5 after they trailed 5-1.

Kang, through an interpreter, declined to comment on the assault allegations after the game in his first public remarks. He did talk about the latest comeback victory, which gave Pittsburgh seven consecutive wins overall and leapfrogged them past St. Louis for second place in the NL Central.

"Not only myself but also all the teammates and the team as a whole unit, we always think positive and keep our heads in the fight," Kang said. "And that's what we did today and the last couple of days."

In a statement Tuesday, police said a 23-year-old woman reported being assaulted by Kang inside a hotel. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the Chicago woman met Kang through a dating app. Kang invited the woman to his hotel room on June 17, after the Pirates played the Cubs.

The woman said she blacked out, then drifted in and out of consciousness as he sexually assaulted her. The woman's name has not been released.

Kang has not been charged, and Major League Baseball said in a statement it would "respond fully as additional facts emerge."
The Pirates have won three straight series at Busch Stadium after dropping their previous seven in St. Louis.
Pirates relievers combined for five scoreless innings. A.J. Schugel (2-2) got the win and Mark Melancon picked up his 26th save.

Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke lasted just four innings and had his three-start winning streak snapped.
"Typically you don't get away with starts like that," Locke said. "Four innings from your starter, five runs and you probably don't have a good chance to win the game. But the guys don't give up. You know it's kind of inspiring."
Rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz went 3 for 5. His 12th homer of the season tied the game 1-1 in the third and his single in the fourth capped a four-run rally for the Cardinals.

Jaime Garcia exited after giving up a pair of walks to start the sixth. Both walks came around to score.
The Cardinals have lost three straight and fell to 18-26 at home. They have lost 10 games in a row at home to teams with winning records.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny successfully challenged first base umpire Dan Iassogna's out call on Kolten Wong that would've ended a four-run rally in the fourth. After a 1 minute, 35 second review, Wong was ruled safe on his bunt attempt. The Cardinals added two extra runs due to the challenge as Jedd Gyorko scored on Wong's hit and Diaz followed with an RBI single.

CARPENTER INJURED
Cardinals All-Star second baseman Matt Carpenter left the game in the third inning with a right oblique injury after swinging awkwardly at one of Locke's pitches. Carpenter was replaced by Wong.

Matheny said Carpenter was in the MRI tube as he spoke to reporters after the game.

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</article>"I have a high level of concern because I've felt that injury and I've seen it," Matheny said. "It can be tough, but I'm not going to make any conclusions until we hear from the people that know what they're talking about."

MUSICAL CHAIRS
The Pirates recalled LHP Kyle Lobstein and optioned LHP Steven Brault to Triple-A Indianapolis. It is the fourth roster move in as many days for the Pirates.

STAGE FRIGHT
Fans that bought a special theme ticket received a John Goodman bobblehead, commemorating his character in "The Big Lebowski." Goodman, a St. Louis native, threw out the first pitch.
"I immediately was scared and I was going to say no, but I thought it might be fun," Goodman said. "I don't deserve this."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates: An MRI on C Chris Stewart's knee showed wear and tear and could require surgery, but Stewart hopes to rehab and play through it. ... RHPs Gerrit Cole (triceps) and Ryan Vogelsong (facial fractures) will throw bullpens Thursday.
Cardinals: C Brayan Pena (knee) was placed on the 15-day DL and C Alberto Rosario was called up from Triple-A Memphis. 3B Jhonny Peralta (thumb) sat Wednesday and is day-to-day.

UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow will make his major league debut. He went 7-2 with a 1.78 ERA at Indianapolis.
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (7-5, 4.70 ERA) pitched seven shutout innings in his last start and St. Louis is 10-3 in his last 13 outings.

bounceback · Jul 9, 2016

[FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Surging Bucs solve Arrieta, dispatch Cubs

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PITTSBURGH -- The scuffling Cubs had everything in their favor Friday night at PNC Park. Ace Jake Arrieta was on the mound, All-Star Anthony Rizzo and Miguel Montero each hit home runs. But the red-hot Pirates had other plans.

David Freese and Sean Rodriguez hit home runs and Pittsburgh scored four runs in the seventh inning, aided by two Chicago errors, to post an 8-4 victory and hand the Cubs their 14th loss in the last 19 games. The Bucs improved to 11-3 over their last 14 games while beating Arrieta for just the second time in 13 tries.

"Before, everything was pretty, and now everything is kind of ugly," Montero said. "It's baseball. You get a lot of ups and downs. … There's another game tomorrow."
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</figcaption></figure>Rizzo gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead with his 21st home run with two outs in the seventh, but he was charged with a throwing error that led to the Pirates' go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning. The Pirates had runners at first and second when John Jaso hit an RBI single to tie the game and chase Arrieta.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle thought the team battled Arrieta well throughout the game.
"I saw it at times, at other times he'd make really good pitches in counts, balls looked hittable then they'd move not where you'd think they were," Hurdle said. "To start with three in the second, then to battle back and get more late, I thought we stayed in the hunt. I thought we were competitive in the box."

Gregory Polanco was safe on an errant throw by Rizzo to pitcher Travis Wood, who was covering first, which allowed another run to score. Andrew McCutchen added an RBI single to open a 6-4 lead and another run tallied when Starling Marte hit into a fielder's choice.
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</figcaption></figure>MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Raise the flag, or ring the Bell? With Adam Frazier on first base and the Pirates down 4-3 in the seventh inning, Josh Bell pinch-hit for pitcher Neftali Feliz and singled on a line drive in his first Major League at-bat. Fittingly, Bell was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis Friday to provide a bat off the bench. The hit moved Frazier into scoring position, and Jaso plated him with an RBI single, tying the game at 4-4. Bell then scored the go-ahead run on Rizzo's throwing error. More >
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</figcaption></figure>All-Star ace: Arrieta is the pitcher the Pirates love to hate after he ousted Pittsburgh in the National League Wild Card Game last October. The right-hander served up home runs to Freese and Rodriguez in the second inning, the second time this season he's given up two homers in a game, but the right-hander exited after Jaso's RBI single in the seventh tied the score at 4.

The reigning National League Cy Young winner began the season 11-1 with a 1.74 ERA in his first 14 starts. He was charged with a season-high six earned runs Friday, and now is 1-3 and has given up 16 earned runs in his last four games.

"They made it difficult for me," Arrieta said. "I probably pitched to contact too much in certain situations. I need to find that happy medium of getting ahead and getting on the corners and not let breaking balls catch too much of the plate. Overall, just came up short." More >
<figure class="poster has-video " style="margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"> <figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">
</figcaption></figure>On-time delivery: The Cubs have struggled to deliver clutch hits lately, especially since leadoff man Dexter Fowler went on the disabled list on June 19. Since then, Chicago was batting .190 with runners in scoring position.

The Cubs didn't waste a one-out triple by Jason Heyward in the fourth. He tallied on Javier Baez's groundout to pull within 3-1. Montero, who was 2-for-7 in his last four games, delivered in the sixth when he launched his fifth homer, a two-run shot, to tie the score at 3. Chicago stranded nine baserunners and has left 42 on base in the last five games.
<figure class="poster has-video " style="margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"> <figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">
</figcaption></figure>They're human, after all: The Pirates took full advantage of mistakes by the division-leading Cubs. In the seventh inning, Polanco reached on a throwing error by first baseman Rizzo, allowing Bell to score. A wild pitch by Trevor Cahill in the eighth plated Jordy Mercer and gave the Pirates an 8-4 lead.
<figure class="poster has-video " style="margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; background: rgb(238, 238, 238);">
<figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">"When things aren't going your way, those moments show up. We're leaving way too many folks on base. When you're not able to score runs like we had been, everything else that's a negative is magnified. We're unable to play through our mistakes right now, and probably in the beginning of the year, we did. ... No excuses, we have to do better."</figcaption></figure>-- Cubs manager Joe Maddon
"Stereotypical Frazier AB, going from 0-2 then drawing a walk or fighting for seven, eight pitches, and then possibly tiring the pitcher out and giving me a cookie."
-- Bell, on Frazier's long at-bat paving the way for his first Major League hit
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With two homers on Friday, the Cubs have 118 for the season, a franchise record for before the All-Star break. The previous high was 117, set in 1987 and 2000.
WHAT'S NEXT
Cubs: All-Star Jon Lester was the NL Pitcher of the Month in June after going 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA. He had the shortest start of his career on Sunday against the Mets, giving up eight runs on nine hits, including three homers, over 1 1/3 innings. He'll be paired with rookie catcher Willson Contreras, who is filling in while David Ross is on the seven-day concussion disabled list. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT.
Pirates: Chad Kuhl will make his third Major League start on Saturday at 7:15 ET, having established a 1-0 record, 4.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in two outings. The Pirates have bounced back from a 9-19 June by winning seven of their first eight games in July.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

Carrie Muskat has covered the Cubs since 1987, and for MLB.com since 2001. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings. You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat and listen to herpodcast.

Sarah K. Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com based in Pittsburgh.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs

</section>

bounceback · Jul 9, 2016

CENTRAL	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Chicago Cubs	52	34	.605	-	26-14	26-20	448	304	+144	L4	2-8
Pittsburgh Pirates	45	42	.517	7.5	23-19	22-23	406	404	+2	W1	8-2
St. Louis Cardinals	44	42	.512	8	19-26	25-16	442	364	+78	L1	4-6
Milwaukee Brewers	38	47	.447	13.5	23-20	15-27	340	405	-65	W1	4-6
Cincinnati Reds	32	55	.368	20.5	18-25	14-30	371	519	-148	L1	3-7

bounceback · Jul 9, 2016

What a crazy 1st half of the season for the Pirates....

We had a brutal stretch going thru 1st place teams and Aces for about 5 straight series, or so it seemed....

We have a FAVORABLE schedule in the 2nd half..........

LETS GO BUCS

bounceback · Jul 9, 2016

2 more games to go vs the 1st place cubbies....

Could be only 5.5 games back after being about 15 games back 2 weeks ago.

ZJP6050 · Jul 10, 2016

was in attendance last night, 2 rows off pirate dugout. that bell grand slam was too awesome to watch live.

5teamparlay · Jul 10, 2016

John Jaso singled to right, Eric Fryer scored 3-2 BUCCOS!!!!!

bounceback · Jul 12, 2016

ZJP6050 said:
was in attendance last night, 2 rows off pirate dugout. that bell grand slam was too awesome to watch live.

Going to be a crazy second half of the season!

bounceback · Jul 12, 2016

Here's how the Central looks at ALL STAR BREAK...........

CENTRAL	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Chicago Cubs	53	35	.602	-	26-14	27-21	460	321	+139	W1	2-8
St. Louis Cardinals	46	42	.523	7	19-26	27-16	455	366	+89	W2	6-4
Pittsburgh Pirates	46	43	.517	7.5	24-20	22-23	423	416	+7	L1	8-2
Milwaukee Brewers	38	49	.437	14.5	23-22	15-27	342	418	-76	L2	3-7
Cincinnati Reds	32	57	.360	21.5	18-25	14-32	376	530	-154	L3	3-7

bounceback · Jul 12, 2016

National League Wild Card Standings At the ALL STAR Break......

[h=2]National League[/h]

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Los Angeles Dodgers	51	40	.560	+2.5	30-18	21-22	382	329	+53	W3	7-3
New York Mets	47	41	.534	-	26-20	21-21	335	315	+20	L3	6-4
Miami Marlins	47	41	.534	-	24-19	23-22	371	370	+1	W3	6-4
St. Louis Cardinals	46	42	.523	1	19-26	27-16	455	366	+89	W2	6-4
Pittsburgh Pirates	46	43	.517	1.5	24-20	22-23	423	416	+7	L1	8-2
Philadelphia Phillies	42	48	.467	6	21-23	21-25	328	415	-87	W1	7-3
Colorado Rockies	40	48	.455	7	20-22	20-26	454	468	-14	L1	3-7
Milwaukee Brewers	38	49	.437	8.5	23-22	15-27	342	418	-76	L2	3-7
San Diego Padres	38	51	.427	9.5	20-25	18-26	393	441	-48	L3	5-5
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	52	.422	10	15-32	23-20	402	456	-54	L4	2-8
Cincinnati Reds	32	57	.360	15.5	18-25	14-32	376	530	-154	L3	3-7
Atlanta Braves	31	58	.348	16.5	13-34	18-24	307	414	-107	W1	4-6

thekeyman · Jul 12, 2016

bounceback said:
Here's how the Central looks at ALL STAR BREAK...........

CENTRAL W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA DIFF STRK L10
Chicago Cubs 53 35 .602 - 26-14 27-21 460 321 +139 W1 2-8
St. Louis Cardinals 46 42 .523 7 19-26 27-16 455 366 +89 W2 6-4
Pittsburgh Pirates 46 43 .517 7.5 24-20 22-23 423 416 +7 L1 8-2
Milwaukee Brewers 38 49 .437 14.5 23-22 15-27 342 418 -76 L2 3-7
Cincinnati Reds 32 57 .360 21.5 18-25 14-32 376 530 -154 L3 3-7

<tbody>
</tbody>

interesting how the cardinals are so poor playing at home

bounceback · Jul 13, 2016

thekeyman said:
interesting how the cardinals are so poor playing at home

very interesting...

I honestly believe that this division is going to go down to the wire.

bounceback · Jul 13, 2016

Looking at the big picture....I see the pirates being a .500 team on the road and about 10-12 games over .500 at home.

Will that be enough? We shall see....

bounceback · Jul 26, 2016

UPDATE:::

CENTRAL	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Chicago Cubs	59	39	.602	-	30-16	29-23	498	349	+149	L1	6-4
St. Louis Cardinals	52	46	.531	7	25-30	27-16	504	409	+95	L2	6-4
Pittsburgh Pirates	51	47	.520	8	28-22	23-25	451	454	-3	W2	5-5
Milwaukee Brewers	42	55	.433	16.5	25-24	17-31	389	452	-63	W1	4-6
Cincinnati Reds	39	60	.394	20.5	24-28	15-32	428	570	-142	W1	7-3

bounceback · Jul 26, 2016

WILD CARD STANDINGS:::

[h=2]National League[/h]

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Los Angeles Dodgers	56	44	.560	+2.5	30-18	26-26	435	371	+64	W2	6-4
New York Mets	52	45	.536	-	26-20	26-25	362	344	+18	W1	5-5
Miami Marlins	53	46	.535	-	25-22	28-24	409	408	+1	L2	5-5
St. Louis Cardinals	52	46	.531	0.5	25-30	27-16	504	409	+95	L2	6-4
Pittsburgh Pirates	51	47	.520	1.5	28-22	23-25	451	454	-3	W2	5-5
Colorado Rockies	47	52	.475	6	25-24	22-28	508	514	-6	L1	6-4
Philadelphia Phillies	46	55	.455	8	23-28	23-27	361	454	-93	W1	4-6
Milwaukee Brewers	42	55	.433	10	25-24	17-31	389	452	-63	W1	4-6
San Diego Padres	43	57	.430	10.5	23-25	20-32	439	490	-51	L1	4-6
Arizona Diamondbacks	41	58	.414	12	17-35	24-23	436	517	-81	L1	3-7
Cincinnati Reds	39	60	.394	14	24-28	15-32	428	570	-142	W1	7-3
Atlanta Braves	33	66	.333	20	14-36	19-30	335	473	-138	L5	2-8

bounceback · Jul 26, 2016

[FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Bucs' rookies could have major roles in stretch run

Young pitchers Taillon, Kuhl, Glasnow may be crucial to Pirates' postseason push
</header>

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PITTSBURGH -- With a brother who's a doctor, a sister who's a lawyer and another brother with a Ph.D., Jameson Taillon's parents get asked the same question time and again.
"What are you putting in the water?"

Their response is fairly simple, Taillon says. When a handful of driven, like-minded individuals cluster together, they rub off on one another. They police each other, and they inspire each other -- no need to spike the water.

With the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaching, the Pirates have three rookie pitchers in or near their rotation. Nine players made their Major League debut with Pittsburgh in the first half of the season. When competing for a trip to the Majors or finding that consistency once they get there, the trio of Taillon, Chad Kuhl and Tyler Glasnow have worked together to sharpen their skills and prepare each other.

"When we were in Triple-A, we were all going through the same thing together, so we had that boat -- hype, whatever, wanting to make the next step," Taillon said. "We didn't really compete against each other, we competed with each other. But we were all in the fight together, and that still applies."
<figure class="poster has-video " style="margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; background: rgb(238, 238, 238);">

<figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">
</figcaption></figure>As the Pirates look to play into the postseason, they could benefit from a more mentally and physically experienced pitching group. General manager Neal Huntington has made it clear he would like to add pitching, but the young potential they already have sets the bar high.
Taillon has made seven Major League starts, and he hasn't registered a walk in his three most recent appearances.

Though Glasnow has landed on the disabled list with right shoulder discomfort and Kuhl left his Triple-A start on Saturday with right triceps discomfort, the trio has certainly helped Pittsburgh get through the month Gerrit Cole spent injured. Depending on Glasnow and Kuhl's diagnoses, they could still help -- fortunately, the Bucs have enough off-days coming up to ration with a four-man rotation, if need be.

"They're not rookies by the postseason, if they get enough experience," Huntington said. "If they have stuff, if they have discipline, if they have the ability [to] control the adrenaline and their emotions, sometimes they have that more than the veteran guys who have been around for eight or 10 years."

Manager Clint Hurdle credits Triple-A coaches as well as development personnel for preparing the train of rookies -- including Steven Brault, Wilfredo Boscan and Josh Bell -- to arrive in Pittsburgh.

"Vision without action is hallucination," Hurdle said. "It's daydreaming. We had the vision, but then the work goes into play, and these guys do get ready. They were prepped for their opportunities here while they were down there. I mean, it's kind of a cool gig we've got going on and how it works."
<figure class="poster has-video " style="margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; background: rgb(238, 238, 238);">

<figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">
</figcaption></figure>It hasn't been a seamless process, as Glasnow's most recent outing indicates. He gave up five stolen bases and three free passes in three-plus innings before leaving due to injury. Taillon has spent time on the DL with right shoulder fatigue. But the moments of potential and poise have instilled confidence in Huntington that the Pirates have a good young group to pluck from.

"You notice they're rookies, because their statistic sheet says they're rookies," Huntington said. "Not necessarily because of typically how they act on the field or carry themselves on their feet."

Sarah K. Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com based in Pittsburgh. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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