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5 postseason keys for the Pittsburgh Pirates

By Nathaniel Reeves

Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Pittsburgh Pirates have clinched their third consecutive playoff berth and look more poised than ever to make a deep postseason run

While they have been somewhat overshadowed all season by a pair of division rivals, there’s no denying that the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be a tough out for anyone in the MLB postseason.

The Pirates own baseball’s second-best record with a mark of 96-63 and are in possession of the top NL Wild Card spot heading into the final weekend of the regular season. After posting a 26-24 record through the first two months of the season, Pittsburgh has been red-hot since June, particularly at the friendly confines of PNC Park.

In any other division, the Pirates would have already booked a trip to the Division Series. However, the 100-win St. Louis Cardinals locked up the NL Central central crown on Wednesday, meaning Pittsburgh will have to face the uncertainty of a one-game playoff.

That one-game playoff is shaping up to be a classic, as the Chicago Cubs have clinched the other NL Wild Card spot. Any Wild Card Game boils down to a coin flip at best, and the Cubs are a very good team that sits right behind Pittsburgh in the standings.

Still, the well-rounded Pirates won’t be easy to beat in any game. The looming potential matchups are tough, but Pittsburgh has a great chance to win the World Series if a few key things go well.

Next: Have Gerrit Cole pitch the game of his life

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