Why? The Pirates have been the hottest team in baseball for a month and a half. They entered Thursday having lost four of their last five games, but still owned a 27-15 since May 9, the best mark in the Majors.
In that time, they've surpassed the Reds and Cubs, but moved only one game closer to the National League Central-leading Cardinals. Seemingly impervious to injuries or slumps, St. Louis has gone 25-17 during that same stretch.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle recalled a recent conversation in which someone told him the Bucs will never catch the Cardinals in the standings, not with a seven-game deficit entering Thursday night.