The Pirates started the year almost 10 games under .500 in early May. Since that timeframe, they have operated 22 games over .500. The Pirates are within a magic number of 3 to collect their second straight playoff appearance. Heading into play tonight, they also own the #1 wildcard slot over the Giants, because even though they are tied, the Bucs have the tiebreaker – with best head to head season series record.

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The Pirates have done a fantastic job brushing off their competition in head to head battle the last few weeks.  As such, they have moved their playoff magic number to 3 versus the Brewers.

This squad has done more than that though…With a the Giants being swept down in San Diego this weekend, they have taken over the #1 wild cards slot over San Francisco – by way of tiebreaker (they won the season series vs SF).

Vance Worley, Edinson Volquez and Josh Harrison have surprised us all this year, and have picked up the slack for the club’s reluctance to add high – priced talent through trades or Free Agency.

Pittsburgh ended the year at home with a 51 – 30 record, and will have to hold their own with 4 against the Braves @ Turner Field, before ending the campaign against the Reds at The Great American Ball Park.

The view of the Roberto Clemente Bridge is worth the price of admission alone at PNC Park. The 2013 fans saw the Bucs make the playoffs for the 1st time in 21 years. There were almost 2.3 Million people that went through the turnstiles. In 2014, they exceeded that with about 2.45 MIL people. . Most ballpark fans have this iconic venue in their top list of stadiums in the MLB.  The Pirates have an outside chance to catch the Cardinals, being 2.5 Games behind in the NL Central, and just 2 in the loss column, yet I don’t think that St. Louis will crumble.  Just like in last year’s win versus the Reds at this park, it could be the venue for the 2014 NL Wild Card Game.

San Fran, on the other hand, have 3 games in Los Angeles versus the Dodgers, in which they will face Dan Haren, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw if respective order.  That sounds like a series loss to me.

Beyond that, the Giants conclude their year with a 4 game set of games versus the Padres @ AT @ Park.  I will give them the edge in the series for sure,  however they will have to face Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy next weekend, guys that beat them this latest weekend.

I am predicting that SF will go 4 – 3 in the week, and that Pittsburgh will also register a 4 – 3 week.  This would force the 1 game wild card in PNC Park for the 2nd year in a row for the NL.

Unlike last year when the Bucs won that tilt, I will say the Giants impose their playoff forces on the Pirates, winning the game regardless of where it is played.

Pittsburgh has had a great year with whatever comes their way in the playoffs, yet I think they are going to learn, the club needs to trade or sign some postseason assassins this winter, and possibly retain Catcher Russell Martin, (Should invoke the Qualifying Offer in my view.)

In the AL, the Mariners blew a chance to take advantage of the Royals losing their weekend series, to gain any ground for the last playoff slot.

Here is where the rubber really meets the road though..Kansas City will likely lose that resumed game tonight, and the M’s will just be one game back.

The Royals then will have a 3 game set of games versus the Tribe.  Cleveland is firing on all cylinders right now, and are a great home squad.  Including the suspended game, I would not be surprised for them to take 3 out of 4 games.

Seattle has their pitching lined this week to throw Felix Hernandez and James Paxton twice in the 7 games.  Even though they are in Toronto, this is a perfect atmosphere for the Mariners to find their hitting stroke.

I firmly believe Seattle notches 3 out of 4 games if Hernandez and Paxton throw all of those starts.  I think they will go 4 – 3 or 5 – 2 overall in the week.

They complete the year against the Angels for 3 games, who will definitely be on auto-pilot, resting players for the playoffs, and taking the starters out early.

The Royals finish their year with 4 games at Us Cellular Field.  Luckily for them, Chicago is running with a 6 man pitching rotation, and now they will miss dominant LHP Chris Sale in the series.

Kansas City is 42 – 32 on the road for the season, so obviously they can handle their own.

Like I said in a blog last week…There could definitely be a Game 163 coming next Monday.

The Athletics have 3 games against the Angels at O.Co, where they throw Jeff Samardzija, Sonny Gray and Jon Lester for the series, so I am coupling that, with a 2 game playoff bar lead, to suggest they will have enough to stave off suitors for the #1 Wild Card.

Oakland heads out to Texas for 4 games to end the campaign, and I have to think they will play them better than last week.

The A’s will also see the Mariners have depleted their aces – with the M’s potentially having to throw Paxton and Hernandez on Saturday and Sunday, and may face having to throw Taijuan Walker or Chris Young to start the game at least.

Jon Lester would lineup to start in the Wild Card Game next Tuesday on 6 days rest, regardless who is the opposing team.

For KC, it would be opposite James Shields.  Should the M’s make it there, it would either be Young or Walker, and they could also implement Iwakuma into the game earlier, although he would be on 3 days rest.

I would point out that if Seattle could clinch prior to Sunday, that they could hold off Hernandez for the playoffs.

If KC and SEA were to play a Monday Game 163, Young and Vargas would be lined up on perfect rest, although I am sure both clubs would consider emptying their Bullpen’s early, with all hands on deck.

Whatever happens, it should shape up to be an entertaining 10 days..

With winning 2 out of 3 versus the Phillies over the weekend, and seeing the M’s and Royals both lose 2 out of 3 during their weekend contests, it has given the A’s and 2 game cushion on the playoff bar entirely.  Chances are the club will be hosting the AL Wild Card game next Tuesday.  Oakland will have a chance to erase any doubt that Billy Beane messed with the chemistry too much, if they are just able to make it to the ALDS round.  Jon Lester is slated to throw in the game.  The winner of the play in game will probably face the Angels in the next round (LAA has a 3 game lead on Baltimore presently with a week left of action to play).

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

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