The Pirates, as with every team fighting for positioning in the post-season picture, are in the midst of a pretty defining stretch for the club.
The "playoffs" if you will, have already gotten under way for the Pirates. Yes, the calendar may still say September, but with the games down the stretch against not only the Cubs, but the Cardinals, the Pirates, if they fail to hang on to the top wild card spot, will have only themselves to blame.
In the final month of the year, the Pirates had 13 of their remaining games against the two teams they are battling for positioning.