NL Central race too close to call
The last month of the season has started and the National League Central race is still far too close to call.
The Pirates (80-57) moved in front by one game over the St. Louis Cardinals (79-58) on Monday. The Pirates beat the Brewers, 5-2, at Milwaukee while the Cardinals lost 7-2 to the Reds at Cincinnati.
The Reds (77-61) are still very much in the picture at just 3½ games behind the Pirates.
Cardinals third baseman David Freese thinks the division race is headed for a potential photo finish.
“We’ve have a really good team and the Pirates have a really good team,” he said. “It’s going to be an interesting four weeks. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Here is a look ahead at the three contenders:
PIRATES: Tonight-Wednesday at Milwaukee Brewers (59-78): RHP Gerrit Cole (6-7, 3.80) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (10-9, 4.39) tonight; LHP Francisco Liriano (15-6, 2.57) vs. RHP Wily Peralta (8-14, 4.51) on Wednesday night.
Friday-Sunday at St. Louis Cardinals: RHP A.J. Burnett (7-9, 3.09) vs. RHP Joe Kelly (7-3, 2.82) on Friday night; RHP Charlie Morton (7-3, 3.00) vs. LHP Adam Wainwright (15-9, 3.14) on Saturday night; Cole vs. RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 3.78) on Sunday.
Who’s hot: Second baseman Neil Walker is hitting .423 (11-for-26) in his last six games with one double, one triple and two home runs.
Who’s not: Shortstop Jordy Mercer is 3-for-18 (.167) with six strikeouts in his last six games.
Of note: The Pirates are 11-6 against the Brewers this season as center fielder Andrew McCutchen is hitting .352 (25-for-71) with three doubles, one triple and four home runs while Liriano is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts. … The Pirates have won 10 of 16 against the Cardinals as catcher Russell Martin is hitting .304 (14-for-46) with three doubles and six homers while Burnett is 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA in five starts.
CARDINALS: Tonight-Thursday at Cincinnati Reds: Wacha vs. RHP Homer Bailey (9-10, 3.55) on Tuesday night; RHP Shelby Miller (12-9, 3.13) vs. RHP Bronson Arroyo (13-10, 3.66) on Wednesday night; RHP Lance Lynn (13-9, 4.29) vs. RHP Greg Reynolds (1-2, 4.74) on Thursday.
Who’s hot: First baseman Allen Craig is hitting .380 (19-for-50) in his last 14 games with three doubles and two home runs.
Who’s not: Shortstop Daniel Descalso is 3-for-32 (.094) in his last 11 games.
Of note: The Cardinals are 11-5 against the Reds as left fielder Matt Holliday is hitting .333 (18-for-54) with seven doubles and three home runs, while Lynn is 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA in four starts. … Center fielder Jon Jay is hitting .365 (19-for-52) against the Pirates with four doubles.
REDS: Friday-Sunday vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-55); RHP Mike Leake (11-6, 3.51) vs. LHP Chris Capuano (4-7, 4.50) on Friday night; RHP Mat Latos (14-5, 2.98) vs. Zack Greinke (14-3, 2.78) on Saturday; Bailey vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (14-8, 1.89) on Sunday night.
Who’s hot: Center fielder Shin-Soo Choo is hitting .444 (12-for-27) in his last six games with three doubles and three home runs.
Who’s not: First baseman Joey Votto is 3-for-23 (.130) with eight strikeouts in his last seven games.
Of note: Votto is hitting .360 (18-for-50) against the Cardinals with four doubles and two home runs. … The Reds lost three of four to the Dodgers from July 25-28 at Los Angeles as second baseman Brandon Phillips went 1-for-13 (.077).