I try not to go overboard with my predictions and outlooks throughout the Pirates season. Yes, every year I say that the Pirates are going to finish above .500, and honestly if I were to begin the season with a goal any lower than that, what fun would that be? I also for the most part don't believe in must win games, unless they are of course the deciding game of a playoff series. However, I truly believe that tonight and tomorrow afternoon's contests against the Orioles are just that, must win games. For the most part this season, the Pirates have been able to keep their record around .500 because they have avoided the long losing streak. Last season, without checking any stats, they had a losing streak of over 10 and another streak where they lost something like 12 of 13. Long streaks of futility in a season are how a team loses 100 games. The Pirates enter tonight's game on a 4 game losing streak after being 35-33 entering their series against the Indians. Their next two series are at home against the Red Sox (who are 14-3 in June) and on the road against the Blue Jays. Things aren't going to get any easier if the Pirates enter the series against Boston on a 6 game losing streak, I would bet big that at the end of the weekend that streak would be at 9. So, with all that said James McDonald needs to be the stopper tonight. He needs to pitch like he did in this game last year. Andrew McCutchen also needs to continue to be the Pirates best player, while praying to God that someone else on the team decides they want to hit tonight. I feel a win. Pirates 4 - Orioles 2. Let's go Bucs.
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