St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates all set to compete in the three-game series – MLB News
As the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates brace themselves for the three games series scheduled to begin from Monday, August 27, the team’s outfielder Matt Holliday said the Redbirds want to make it to the playoffs.
With a rather good road start by the Cardinals wherein they overwhelmed the Cincinnati Reds in the three-game series, chances have increased for the club as far as the Wild Card is concerned. Important to mention here is the fact that the Redbirds thrashed the Texas Rangers in the World Series final last year after they had made it to the playoffs through Wild Card.
"Every game is important for us," Cardinals' outfielder Matt Holliday said. "We're trying to win. We're trying to make the playoffs. Every game is equally important. We're pushing hard, and it's almost September."
The catcher Yadier Molina, on the other hand, also spoke about the Wild Card. However, he emphasised that this race was different from the previous one. Important, nonetheless, for the Cardinals is to get an upper hand in the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"Obviously, this year is different because of the second Wild Card," Cardinals' catcher Yadier Molina said. "Last year is last year. You know it's going to be tough to win 162, but at the same time, you need to know that you have to win the most games you can, and this is no different. ... For me, it's just another game. You try to win it."
The Pirates on the other hand come with a number of setbacks lately. The fact that they have lost five of the last six games they have played raise a lot of questions about their ability to counter the apparently dominant St. Louis Cardinals.
The commencement of the series at PNC Park will come with a slight psychological advantage for the Cardinals as they have made phenomenal comeback in the second round of the season.
With the regular season nearing end and the playoffs around the corner, the Cardinals will try to ascend to the top of the National League Central, something that does not seem far-fetched any longer given the resurgence they have demonstrated.
Tags: