The Pittsburgh Pirates nor their opponent for the next four days – the San Francisco Giants – has any hope of extending their season beyond the last game of the regular season on Sept. 29.
After all, the Pirates are buried in the National League Central, 21 games under .500, and the Giants – who look good in comparison at 69-74 – sit 7.5 games out of a wild card spot.
But that doesn’t mean the upcoming four-game series is void of any intriguing story lines.
For starters, tonight’s 9:45 p.m. start at Oracle Park will see Trevor Williams look to put together a fourth straight quality start when he matches up against the Giants’ jolly left-hander, Madison Bumgarner.