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The Pittsburgh Pirates have one chance to get it right if they want to advance to the National League Division Series.

As reported by ESPN, the team announced Monday that Edinson Volquez will start the Wild Card game Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants in front of what’s sure to be a raucous crowd at PNC Park. But is that the right choice?

As with any situation, there are two sides to every story.

Some fans see Volquez as the man who had the highest earned-run average of any starter in Major League Baseball last year. He posted a 5.71 ERA while pitching most of his games for the San Diego Padres in Petco Park, a cavernous stadium known to favor pitchers.

They also see a man who, in his only previous playoff start, allowed four runs in 1.2 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2010 National League Division Series.

Those old stats are history, although history does have a way of repeating itself.

Fans would be a lot more concerned if Volquez, who signed for $5 million before this season, didn’t put together a spectacular year for the Pirates in 2014.

He leads the team in wins (13), earned run average (3.04) and innings pitched (192.2). That’s not to mention Volquez is currently engaged in a career-best scoreless-innings streak that is up to 18 innings.

That scoreless-innings streak has gone a long way in helping him record a 1.08 ERA in September, a number that is the second-lowest in the National League in September.

Volquez is the third starter on the team behind Francisco Liriano, who won last year’s National League Wild Card game against the Cincinnati Reds, and Gerrit Cole.

However, Cole pitched on Sunday when the National League Central was still up for grabs, and Liriano pitched the day before, giving up three earned runs in five innings.

That means Volquez is the only viable option left who has the traditional five days of rest.

But that doesn’t mean there’s not concern.

Charlie Wilmoth of Bucs Dugout made the case that Volquez’ secondary numbers aren’t nearly as good as his ERA suggests.

That’s not to mention Volquez is walking 3.3 batters per nine innings to go along with his league-high 15 wild pitches and 14 hit-batters.

Wilmoth is of the opinion that the Pirates should have held Cole out of the game Sunday and saved him for Wednesday.

The take here is that starting Cole was the right choice, as the team still had a chance to tie the St. Louis Cardinals for the division title. Things didn’t work out that way, and it’s always easy to second-guess in hindsight.

Tom Singer of MLB.com also agrees with the team’s decision to give the ball to Volquez, given his stellar performance in the second half of the season.

Keeping the ball in the park is one element that makes Volquez the Pirates’ hottest pitcher, and a logical choice for the first postseason assignment,” Singer said. “He has fashioned a 1.78 ERA across his last 12 starts, and has not lost since his first outing following the All-Star Game.

Volquez is the right call, if only for the fact that he’s rested and has pitched brilliantly as of late.

Let’s just hope his brilliant September carries over in to October.

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It’s not a stretch to say the Pittsburgh Pirates’ weak September schedule could propel them into the playoffs if the team takes care of business against a trio of last-place teams.

The Pirates play host this weekend to a faltering Cincinnati Reds squad that currently sits four games under .500, a team that is all but eliminated from the playoff hunt. The Pirates then head to St. Louis for a pivotal three-game set that could go a long way toward determining the Bucs’ playoffs future.

But after that, the seas part and the sun comes out in a big way. The Pirates start a stretch of 13 games against last-place teams that are a combined 43 games under .500.

The schedule opens up with a three-game set in Chicago followed by a four-game series in Philadelphia. The Bucs then head home for another three-game set against the Cubs and follow with a three-game series against Boston.

The Pirates currently sit two games out of the wild card in the National League and four games out of first place in the National League Central Division. There are 29 games left on the schedule before the regular season closes on Sept. 28, giving the team plenty of time to play catch-up in the standings.

The time is coming for the Pirates to make their surge. They took care of business last weekend in Milwaukee, taking two of three from the first-place Brewers on the road. They took care of business at home this week too, taking two out of three from the second-place Cardinals.

Baseball Prospectus currently gives the Pirates a 30 percent change at making the postseason, a number that should rise substantially in the coming weeks.

That’s because these teams are in last place for a reason. That’s also not to mention most of those last-place teams, in particular the Chicago Cubs, have already begun a process that’s very familiar to Pirates fans: calling up prospects and letting them sink or swim in the month of September.

That’s not to say the Pirates should sweep all of those series. The prospects getting called up will be there for a reason, even if they have very little experience in the majors.

But taking two out of three from those teams, even on the road, isn’t too much to ask given the Pirates’ recent strong play against teams above them in the standings.

If the Bucs take care of business like they should, the stage will be set for an epic end-of-September showdown with three games against Milwaukee at home and four games against Atlanta on the road.

Nothing is out of the question yet, not even a first-place finish for the Pirates. If the team can manage to take care of this trio of last-place teams, a sea of black could again wash over PNC Park this October with a second consecutive playoff series in the Steel City.

The hunt for a black October is on.

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We’re almost at the point in the season where rosters expand to 40 players and teams call up all sorts of minor league prospects to supplement their rosters.

Some of these September call-ups go a long way in helping their teams qualify for the playoffs. Others flame out and ride the bench until the end of the season. Either way, these prospects have the chance to make their mark while also giving a much-needed boost to weary rosters at the end of a long season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a slew of potential prospects in Indianapolis who could make an impact in the big leagues when rosters expand in two weeks. Some have been here before; others have spent their entire careers in the minors.

One thing is for certain. This team needs help on several fronts in order to remain in contention for a second consecutive playoff berth. Let’s hope these prospects can help push the team over the top in September.

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The next three weeks will determine whether the Pittsburgh Pirates make the playoffs.

The schedule is packed full of teams that are leading their division or in close contention for the postseason. It is full of three-game series with teams like the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds.

Those teams are a combined 33 games over .500, with the only soft spot being the Reds, who are currently one game under .500 but by no means out of the playoff hunt.

The Pirates play each of the teams listed above in a three-game series except for the Cardinals, who play the Bucs six times. That means the next 18 games are against formidable foes, all with a horse in the race for the playoffs.

The tough schedule comes at a horrible time for the team, currently maligned with injuries to star Andrew McCutchen and solid second baseman Neil Walker. That’s not to mention Pedro Alvarez.

Notwithstanding, the Pirates bats have continued to come alive, despite the absence of the team’s best hitters. Pittsburgh is 5-5 without McCutchen, who will be on the disabled list until at least Aug. 19.

Despite the injuries and tough schedule, Baseball Prospectus still gives the Pirates a 56 percent chance of making the playoffs. The website also predicts the team will finish with 85 wins when the dust settles.

The most important of these next 18 games are the games against division foes Milwaukee and St. Louis. The Bucs are currently looking up in the standings at both teams, despite being out of first place by only 2.5 games. In that timespan, they play six games with the Cardinals and three with the Brewers, teams they are a combined 9-17 against this season. Two out of three of those series are on the road.

Thankfully, those division rivalries don’t happen for another week. The Pirates have other contenders to deal with first.

Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects illustrated the point that the Pirates still have their work cut out for them before those division rivalries start Aug. 22:

There are six games remaining each against the Brewers and Cardinals, and those games could go a long way to deciding the NL Central race and the Wild Card order. The first of those games will start next weekend, but before that happens, the Pirates have to go up against one of the best teams in the NL — the Nationals — along with trying to capitalize on the struggling Braves.

The Pirates last year at this time were 23 games above .500 and winning the National League Central by three games. Clearly, this isn’t last year. The Pirates are clinging to the second wild-card spot by half a game over the San Francisco Giants, with Atlanta and Cincinnati close behind.

The fate of these 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates lies in the outcome of the next three weeks. Let’s hope the offense keeps ticking and the pitching staff can silence some of the best teams in the National League.

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Pedro Alvarez has always been a polarizing player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The man affectionately known as El Toro has undisputed power in his bat as evidenced by the National League-leading 36 home runs he hit last year. However, that power comes at a cost in the form of dismally-low batting averages, loads of strikeouts and poor fielding at third base.

The questions surrounding Alvarez have become more prominent since the emergence of super-utility player Josh Harrison and his stellar play since becoming a mainstay in the lineup. Some fans in Pittsburgh think Harrison can and should shoulder the full load at third base, relegating Alvarez to a platoon-like situation off the bench. Those fans are a bit premature in their zeal to see Alvarez ride the bench, but the question still remains as to what his future with the team holds.

First and foremost, Alvarez is represented by super agent Scott Boras, a man whose clients usually opt for free agency and big-money deals when their time is up. The team is paying Alvarez $4.25 million this season, a number that is likely to inflate to more than $10 million during arbitration in the offseason, according to Rum Bunter’s Adam Perry.

So perhaps the bigger question isn’t to bench or to play Alvarez, but rather to trade him and get something in return before he leaves for free agency anyway. The team controls Alvarez until after the 2016 season, but that doesn’t mean the Pirates shouldn’t start exploring ways to move him now, especially because he’s in line for a big pay raise after the season.

Do the Pirates want to pay upwards of $10 million a year for a third baseman who currently leads Major League Baseball with 17 errors? That’s a lot of money for a player hitting .232 at the plate, second-worst among all third basemen in the league. Of course, he’s always liable to go on a tear and hit seven home runs in a week.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bob Smizik makes a relevant point in a blog post from several weeks ago, a point that illustrates the conundrum that is Pedro Alvarez.

Alvarez will be a free agent after the 2016 season. Since he is represented by agent Scott Boras, whose clients usually opt for free agency, the belief is the Pirates will trade him before that day comes. If Alvarez’s career takes off, there’s no way the Pirates can afford him. If it does not, there’s no way they’ll want him at the salary he’ll still command.

Smizik goes on to say that Alvarez could be a prime target for American League teams looking for a designated hitter, or for a team looking to convert him to first base. His ability to hit 30 or more home runs a year cannot be denied, especially on a Pirates team lacking in power. But the Pirates are not the New York Yankees and cannot afford to pay a player tens of millions just for a power bat.

The debate in Pittsburgh isn’t centered around trading Alvarez, although maybe it should be. Instead, manager Clint Hurdle is faced with hard decisions now that second baseman Neil Walker is back from the disabled list, forcing Hurdle to get creative in finding a lineup spot for the hot-hitting Harrison.

For one, Perry thinks it’s time for Alvarez to ride the bench. If that happens, could a trade be far behind?

The immediate question is: Who gives the Pirates a better chance to win, if you’re writing the lineup card tomorrow? I’d go with Harrison, and give him a chance to prove he’s not an everyday player, rather than continuing with Alvarez, who has yet to prove this year that he’s an everyday player.

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News broke Friday afternoon that the Pittsburgh Pirates have removed Jason Grilli from the closer’s role, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Rob Biertempfel.

Setup man Mark Melancon will get the lion’s share of saves, according to Biertempfel, while Grilli will be used in low-leverage situations—games the team is losing, in other words.

What a difference a year makes.

This time last season, Grilli was just weeks away from attending his first All-Star Game—a feat made even more impressive by the fact that he was 36 years old and in the midst of a career resurgence more than 16 years after being drafted.

The man fans affectionately refer to as Grilled Cheese pitched to a 2.70 ERA last year, giving up just 15 runs in 50 innings. In contrast, he’s already given up nine runs in 18.2 innings this season.

The four home runs Grilli gave up in 2013 have already been equaled this year, including two game-changing home runs in back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Reds this week. His 4.34 ERA isn’t horrendous, but it’s certainly not ideal for a closer.

So what’s the issue? Why has Grilli fallen so far from his lights-out performances last year at the back end of the bullpen?

For starters, his strikeouts are done, his walks are up and, as Rant Sports’ Zach Morrison said, his command is awful.

The odd thing about Grilli’s situation is that his velocity on both his fastball and slider are down, but not by much. Grilli’s average fastball velocity is down by just 0.6 miles per hour and his slider is down just 0.4 miles per hour compared to 2013. Grilli’s problem isn’t his velocity—it’s his command.

Fan reaction to Grilli’s demotion will surely be mixed, but can anyone blame Clint Hurdle for making the move? The team has been struggling all year to get back to a .500 winning percentage and is currently eight games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.

It goes without saying, but the Pirates can not afford to lose so many games in the final inning, especially after the rest of the team worked so hard to secure a lead.

As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook said Friday, losing too many games like that can have a very real effect on the psyche of a team, especially one that’s struggling.

Nothing demoralizes a team more than when it plays hard for three or four hours and builds a lead only to see the closer blow it in three or four minutes. The Pirates lead the National League with 14 blown saves.

Fans will now get the chance to see if Grilli can regain his form in low-pressure situations. If he can’t, it might be time for the team to part ways and close the curtain on Grilli’s career, according to Morrison:

If he continues to regress, then the Pirates shouldn’t hesitate to cut ties with him. Something needs to be done soon however, because right now, the Grilled Cheese is toast.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates shocked Major League Baseball last year by winning 94 games and coming within a win of reaching the National League Championship Series, but this year’s version of the team will have a hard time duplicating that success.

At this point last year, the Pirates were 12 games over .500 and leading a crowded pack for the first spot in the National League Wild Card race. This year, as of June 17, the team is one game under .500 and currently sits seven games back of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Despite the fact that the Pirates currently sit 2.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot, sabermetrics website Baseball Prospectus only gives the team a 20 percent chance of making it back to the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

The biggest difference between this year and last is the team’s starting pitching, which has been nowhere near as efficient. As of June 17, the starting staff has only earned 17 wins in 69 games started this year, bad enough to rank 28th in baseball. In addition, the starters’ combined earned run average sits at 4.12, ranking them 22nd in baseball. In comparison, the Pirates finished with the fifth-best rotation in baseball last year after pitching to a 3.50 ERA.

During an interview on the 93.7 The Fan radio station last month, general manager Neal Huntington acknowledged that his squad wasn’t playing or acting like a playoff-caliber team and admitted that the starting staff lacked the fire it possessed last year.

Our starters, while as a whole haven’t been as productive as we’d like them to be, there are some definite strong signs.

Huntington made this statement long before the team released ineffective Wandy Rodriguez and before pitchers Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano landed on the disabled list. The rotation is now full of names like Brandon Cumpton, Vance Worley and Jeff Locke, pitchers who all started the season in the minors.

It will likely be several more weeks before either injured pitcher returns to the team, and there won’t be any salvation coming in the form of top pitching prospect Jameson Taillon, who in April became another in a long line of pitchers to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Perhaps the only silver lining is the team’s schedule heading into the All-Star break in mid-July, which features National League bottom-feeders like Chicago, New York and Arizona despite two series with Cincinnati and one with St. Louis.

Huntington will have some tough choices to make on how, or if, to improve his team heading into the second half of the season. The general manager has been a buyer and not a seller since 2012, bringing in big bats like Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau last year at the deadline and trading for Travis Snider and Gaby Sanchez the year before that.

As already noted by Bleacher Report’s Matthew Smith, the Pirates need to be buyers at the trade deadline this year, especially when it comes to the starting rotation.

It’s clear that the team has to invest in an arm or two to make a playoff run, a fact Huntington understands. As per ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Pirates are one of several teams linked to talks in acquiring Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel, who is 6-4 with a 3.02 ERA this year.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team make a move for an arm, considering the Pirates have a pool of talent large enough in the minor leagues to entice any general manager in baseball. The question remains if Huntington will pull the trigger soon enough to save a starting rotation that is at best a gamble and at worst one of the shakiest rotations in the National League.

The decision could make or break the Pirates’ playoff chances for 2014, a fact not lost on Smith.

Make no mistake: The Pirates are very much in the playoff picture. Sure, taking the NL Central is unlikely, but grabbing a wild-card spot is attainable if Huntington goes about his business the right way.

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