The Cincinnati Reds will travel to Pittsburgh tonight to take on the Pirates in the National League wild-card game.
The Pirates swept the Reds to end the regular season and finished with an impressive 94-68 record. The season marked the Pirates first winning season since 1992.
Mat Latos was supposed to take the mound for Cincinnati in tonight’s do-or-die contest, but due to bone chips in his elbow, the Reds will start Johnny Cueto. In his last two starts, Cueto has been sharp, allowing only two earned runs over 12 innings.
Interestingly, Cueto was also Cincinnati’s Opening Day Starter. I’ll defer to the superstition aficionados on that one.
Pittsburgh will throw Francisco Liriano who has been spectacular at home this year. While on the bump at PNC Park, Liriano went 8-1 with an 1.74 ERA this season.
However, the playoffs are a fresh start, and both teams desperately want to extend their seasons. It’s going to be loud in Pittsburgh, and tonight’s tilt should be a dog fight.
Come back at 8:07 PM ET for live analysis and reactions once the game is underway.
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