The Pittsburgh Pirates have finally returned to the MLB postseason and will play host to the Cincinnati Reds tonight in the MLB Baseball NL Wild Card one-game playoff on TBS. A three-game sweep of the Reds put the Pirates in a situation to play this elimination game at home, and they aim to take advantage of it. Watch MLB Baseball NL Wild Card Playoff game free live online streaming on TBS instructions are below.
Pittsburgh entered September with last season’s monumental collapse still hanging over their heads yet managed to play tough, not fold, and finally reach the postseason. Manager Clint Hurdle has done a fantastic job with the team since he took over in 2010, and now they are within striking distance of winning the franchise’s sixth World Series.
The starting pitcher for Pittsburgh tonight is Francisco Liriano, who enters the game with a 16-8 regular season record and a 3.02 ERA. Liriano has enjoyed a resurgence with the Pirates and returned to its 2006 All Star form. Many teams wished they would have signed him in 2012 out of free agency. The Pirates did, and with their success they lured other free agents and trades such as Russell Martin, A.J. Burnett, Justin Morneau and Marlon Bryd. When pitching at home this season, Liriano is an impressive 8-1 with a piddly 1.47 ERA.
The Reds counter Liriano with Johnny Cueto, a young hurler who missed a large portion of the season with back woes. He returned in mid-September and has been pitching great. Historically, Cueto has put up a 13-4 record and 2.37 ERA against the Pirates in 21 starts, including an 8-2 record and 1.90 ERA at PNC Park in Pittsburgh where tonight’s game will be played. Tonight’s game that you can watch MLB Baseball NL Wild Card Playoff game free live online streaming on TBS should be a low scoring affair.
Unlike the Pirates, the Reds are no strangers to the playoffs having been a participant in three of the last four seasons. They’ll have to win tonight in a stadium and town that will be rocking hard for the first time since Barry Bonds left a generation ago. It will be no easy feat for the Reds, and they’ll gladly welcome Brandon Phillips back into the lineup after he left Saturday’s game due to an apparent leg injury.
Tonight’s playoff for the NL Wild Card spot and chance to play St. Louis next has a start time of 8:07pm EST / 5:07pm PST with the game being televised on TBS in high definition (HD). Cable subscribers with TBS in their package can watch the free live online streaming game on TBS here by signing in with their cable provider’s information. Last night I predicted the Rangers would win and they didn’t, so I’m going to predict the Reds to beat the odds tonight and hope the Pirates pull out a victory to finally give their fans something to cheer about.
