CHICAGO — Playoff positions may be locked in for much of the postseason field, but the Pittsburgh Pirates still have some unfinished business.
A recent hot streak has propelled the Pirates to within reach of first-place St. Louis heading into a three-game series with the Cardinals starting Monday at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh was three games behind St. Louis following Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that everybody who plays the game wants to play their best baseball at the end,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said last week. “It’s something we talk about organizationally.
“(Now) we get to go home and play the team we’re hunting.”
The Pirates have played exceptional winning baseball of late, riding a season-high-tying eight straight victories — a streak broken by the Cubs in Sunday’s series finale. They also have the major league’s best record (82-45) since May 9.
They were 6 1/2 games behind the Cardinals as recently as Sept. 5 and five games out on Sept. 18.
Pittsburgh wrapped up its road season with Sunday’s loss and were 45-36 away from home. The Pirates’ final six games are at home, where they are 50-25. Following the St. Louis series, they’ll host Cincinnati for three.