To say that September has been a great month for the Pirates would be an understatement. After getting swept by the St. Louis Cardinals to begin the month, the Pirates have been white hot. The Pirates have gone on to win 17 of their last 23 contests, propelling them to another trip to the playoffs. Once again, the Pirates will host the National League Wild Card game, this time the opponent will be the San Francisco Giants.
With players like Andrew McCutchen, Josh Harrison and Russell Martin having tremendous seasons, it would be easy to look at them as the key to getting a win Wednesday night. Though they will likely need to come up big in order to advance to the NLDS against the Washington Nationals, nobody will be leaned on more heavily than Pirates starting pitcher, Edinson Volquez.
Few players have symbolized the great month of September for the Pirates than Volquez. Volquez has not allowed an earned run in three of his last five starts, and has an impressive 1.10 ERA along with holding opposing hitters to .170 average in his last six starts.
After being signed this season on the hunch that Volquez could figure out the issues that had plagued him pitching for the San Diego Padres, few fans took the signing seriously, or gave Volquez much of a chance of making a significant impact. However, in a comeback season where Volquez has once again become the outstanding pitcher he once was in Cincinnati, Volquez now will start in the Pirates biggest game of the season.
Volquez’s 13 wins lead the Pirates, and his 3.04 ERA and 1.230 WHIP are both second among Pirate starters. Nobody in the Pirates rotation has been hotter than Volquez, and his eight wins at PNC Park are by far the most of any Pirate starter.
In a do-or-die scenario, it will be Volquez who will be asked to limit the impact of a Giants lineup that has championship pedigree, a MVP candidate and a number of players who have had some success in the past facing Volquez.
Among those who were part of the Giants last World Series championship in 2012, Buster Posey (.417, 1 RBI), Pablo Sandoval (.462, 3 RBI) and Hunter Pence (.195 3 HR, 9 RBI) are all dangerous hitters capable of pushing the Giants to victory.
In a game where the Pirates will have to face 18-game winner Madison Bumgarner, it will be critical for Volquez to start fast and keep the Giants bats quiet. This game is likely going to be a low-scoring contest, so one must hope Volquez continues being the dominant pitcher he has been in the month of September.
If he does, there’s a great chance the Pirates will move on to Washington to face the Nationals in the NLDS.
