The Cincinnati Reds meet the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday evening for their N.L. Wild Card Game. Here is the TV schedule with channel info and game time as both of these N.L. Central rivals hook up for what should be an unforgettable matchup. Two aces take the hill Tuesday night as only one of these teams can advance to the NLDS.
TV Channel- Where to Watch? TBS
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Pirates and Reds hook up for the 20th time in 2013, not counting Spring Training. The Pirates own the season matchup 11-8. They won the season series after sweeping the last three games of the year and they have a chance to make it four in a row on Tuesday night at PNC Park.
It will be a night of first timers for a lot of people in Pittsburgh. Anybody who was born after 1990 probably does not remember the last time the Pirates were in the playoffs. Fans were too young to remember 1992, but also because the team is playing in their first postseason since 1992. Back in those days, before Twitter and mass media, the Pirates had Barry Bonds leading the way as the slugger was well on his way to earning his second N.L. MVP award.
The Pirates don't have much playoff experience. There's Russell Martin, A.J. Burnett, tonight's starter Francisco Liriano, Kyle Farnsworth and Felix Pie, who all have played in October. When discussing hitters; Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker and Starlin Marte, these guys drive the Pirates' offense and they have never played under the brighter lights of October.
The Reds are not worried about this entering tonight. Their players are well seasoned when it comes to October, playing in their third playoffs in the last four years. The Reds stayed focused and did not let the Pirates or the St. Louis Cardinals' success affect their run in 2013. They remained right behind both of these teams throughout the season, making the N.L. Central the toughest division in baseball.
On the mound for the Reds, a Pirate killer, Johnny Cueto will take the hill as the Pirates will have their ace, Francisco Liriano, take the ball in the franchise most important game in over 20 years. The winner of this game enters another N.L. Central battle as they face the Cardinals in the NLDS.
