We won’t know the Cubs’ opponent in the NLDS until the conclusion of the Wild Card game, which doesn’t actually feature the Pittsburgh Pirates this year. Weird, right? It doesn’t include the Cubs, either, which is a very welcome change from 2015. There was much hand-wringing in the land heading into that single-elimination play-in last year, though the game ended up providing mercifully little competitive drama.
This time around, Cubs fans get a chance to watch two other teams duke it out for the privilege of playing at Wrigley. Not only does the Wild Card provide a brief reprieve from the inevitable anxiety of the playoffs, but it also presents a pretty epic pitching matchup.