Which pitchers could the Pittsburgh Pirates face in a Wild Card game?

Jul 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeated the Giants 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants

The Giants are currently on the outside looking in on the playoff race, but we know their resilience over the past few seasons. Three World Series in five years speaks for itself, and we all know who the Giants would send out in a potential Wild Card matchup: Madison Bumgarner.

While Bumgarner hasn’t set the world on fire this season, he is still having another solid year. He leads all Giants’ starters in ERA (3.28) and strikeouts (148), and we saw what he did last year in the postseason, starting with the Pirates. Pittsburgh fans should be nervous based on last year alone. He’s also young and his best years might still be in front of him.

Bumgarner is a flamethrower and doesn’t walk many batters. The Pirates have not faced him this season and won’t again this year unless they meet in the postseason. The Pirates did, however, shell him in their only regular season matchup last year, putting up five runs in four innings against him. But Bumgarner is a lefty, and the Pirates don’t always send out the greatest lineup against lefties.

And, again, let’s not forget his complete game, 10-strikeout performance last season against the Pirates. Out of any pitcher the Pirates could face, he probably scares me the most.

Next: Max Scherzer