NL Wild Card Game: Cubs vs Pirates

Who would have thought that the best 3 teams in baseball would all be in the same National League Central division?  The National League Wild Card Game will be played by the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.  As for the playoffs, this is the Cubs first playoff appearance since 2008 and this is the third consecutive playoff appearance for the Pirates.

This year, the Cubs have drastically changed their season from last year.  Last years record was a dismal 73-89, while this season boasted a 97-65 record.  That is a 24 game turnaround that led them to the 3rd best record in the MLB.  With the newly gained talent and veterans such as, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Jon Lester, Jorge Soler, Starlin Castro and more. 

Cubs Lineup                                                         Pirates Lineup
Dexter Fowler, CF                                               Gregory Polanco, RF
Schwarber, RF                                                     Josh Harrison, 3B
Bryant, LF                                                           Andrew McCutchen, CF
Rizzo, 1B                                                             Starling Marte, LF
La Stella, 3B                                                        Francisco Cervelli, C
Castro, 2B                                                            Neil Walker, 2B
Miguel Montero, C                                              Jordy Mercer, SS
Russell, SS                                                           Sean Rodriguez, 1B
Arrieta, P                                                             Gerrit Cole, P

The biggest story of this game will be the pitching, which could possibly be the best pitching matchup of the year.  This game will be exciting and exhilarating and who knows, Back to the Future could be right? Could the Cubs go all the way and shock the world? Let's hope so!