Pittsburgh Pirates Facing Crucial 13 Game Stretch

We have been looking ahead at these next thirteen games on the Pittsburgh Pirates schedule for about three weeks now. It appeared to be an opportunity for the Bucs to really distance themselves from the pack in the National League Central.

It really stands out as an opportunity for the Pirates to put the first exclamation mark on the 2012 season.

The upcoming 13 games on the Pittsburgh Pirates schedule are all teams from the National League Central. The Bucs host three games against the Chicago Cubs and then will hit the road. The team will travel to Houston to play the Astros for four games and then to Chicago to play three against the Cubs. The All-NL Central roadtrip concludes in Cincy for three games against the Reds which will have serious impact in the NL Central race.

Heading into Sunday’s games, the Cubs are 6-4 in their last ten games with back-to-back losses. Chicago has a 38-55 record and are 15.5 games behind the Reds. The Cards destroyed them last night 12-0.

The Astros are playing horribly right now going 1-9 in the last ten games. Houston has a 34-61 record and bring up the rear in the NL Central at 18.5 games off the pace.

The August 3-5 series in Cincinnati looms large, especially considering if the Pirates can take care of business against the bottom of the NL Central.