PITTSBURGH - The Pirates and Cardinals will kick off the 2016 MLB season today at 1:00 PM, with the first game of a very difficult division race. Last year, the Cardinals had the best record in baseball, winning 100 games. The Pirates were second, with 98 wins. And this year, the Cubs are projected to be better than both of those teams, with the Pirates and Cardinals still projected to be good.
Simply put, if you thought the NL Central was difficult last year, wait until you see the 2016 race. And with every game counting, the Pirates will open with a very important game and series.