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NL wild card game: Pirates vs. Cubs, probable pitchers, TV time

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The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park Wednesday night for the Nationals League wild card game.

For the Pirates, who won 98 games as a wild card team, it's their third consecutive postseason appearance. For the Cubs, it's their first since 2008 season.

The essentials:

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Time/TV: 8:08 p.m. ET (TBS)

What's at stake: The winner advances to the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals

Probable starters

Jake Arrieta, Cubs

  • 2015: 22-6, 1.77 ERA, 236 Ks, 48 BBs
  • vs. Pirates: 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA in 5 starts this season

Gerrit Cole, Pirates

  • 2015: 19-8, 2.60 ERA, 202 Ks
  • vs. Cubs: 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 9 career starts against Chicago, including 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA this season

Season Series: Cubs won 11-8.

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Projected lineups

Cubs

  1. CF Dexter Fowler (.250 BA, 17 HR, 46 RBI) 
  2. LF Kyle Schwarber (.246 BA, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
  3. 3B Kyle Bryant (.275 BA, 26 HR, 99 RBI)
  4. 1B Anthony Rizzo (.278 BA, 31 HR, 101 RBI)
  5. 2B Starlin Castro (.265 BA, 69 RBA)
  6. RF Chris Coghlan (.250 BA, 16 HR, 41 RBI)
  7. C Miguel Montero (.248 BA, 15 HR, 53 RBI)
  8. SS Addison Russell (.242 BA, 54 RBI)

Pirates

  1. RF Gregory Polanco (.256 BA, 27 SB)
  2. LF Starling Marte (.287 BA, 19 HR, 81 RBI, 30 SB)
  3. CF Andrew McCutchen (.292 BA, 23 HR, 86 RBI, 36 2B)
  4. 3B Aramis Ramirez (.246 BA, 17 HR, 75 with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh)
  5. 2B Neil Walker (.269 BA, 16 HR, 71 RBI)
  6. 1B Pedro Alvarez (.243 BA, 27 HR, 77 RBI, 131 K)
  7. C Francisco Cervelli (.295 BA),
  8. SS Jordy Mercer (.244 BA)

Closers

  • Cubs: Hector Rondon (6-4, 1.67, 30/34 saves)
  • Pirates: Mark Melancon (3-2, 2.23, 51/53 saves, 0.93 WHIP)

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Of Note: 

  • This is the first postseason meeting between the teams, who have been in the same division since 1969.
  • The Cubs haven't even won a playoff game since famously squandering a 3-1 lead in the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins. 
  • The Cubs had the best road record in the majors (48-33).
  • Cubs pitchers set a National League record with 1,431 strikeouts, breaking the mark set by the 2003 Cubs (1,404).
  • Rizzo is hitting .353 against Cole.
  • After a sluggish 18-22 start, the Pirates posted the best record in the majors since May 20 (80-42).
  • Melancon collected 5 of his major league-leading 51 saves against Chicago.
  • Marte (16) and Polanco (13) finished first and second in the NL in outfield assists.

AP contributed to this report

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