The unofficial first half of the season came to an end for the Pirates on Sunday. And what an eventful first half it was.
The Pirates put a roster full of players on the injured list. They also endured losing streaks of eight games and seven games.
Yet the Pirates are firmly in contention to win the National League Central despite their pedestrian 44-45 record.
After beating the Brewers 6-5 on Sunday at PNC Park, the Pirates trail the first-place Cubs by 2 ½ games. Fittingly, the Pirates start a three-game series with the Cubs on Friday in Chicago after taking four days off for the All-Star break.