In the 2014 wild-card matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, Madison Bumgarner pitched a shutout at PNC Park, the first step in what would become a historically great postseason run culminating in a World Series championship. The old adage that pitching wins championships was proven true, and Bumgarner was crowned the World Series MVP.
As the National League playoff race takes shape in the final days of the 2015 season, the Central Division remains the most heated battleground. Although the Cardinals have dominated the NL Central, having reached 100 wins, the Cubs and Pirates have not been far behind and will face each other in the single-elimination wild-card game despite having a better record than the other two division winners, the Dodgers and Mets. The Pirates' superior record has them set to host the Cubs, but the Cubs may have the upper hand with their surplus of excellent pitching.
There is some question about whether Jake Arrieta or Jon Lester should pitch in that do-or-die playoff game for the Cubs. Arrieta has had the better season, but Lester has experience in the playoffs and has performed well there. If Joe Maddon wants to give his team the best chance of not only winning the wild-card game but also advancing deep into the playoffs, he shouldn't choose at all. Arrieta has earned the start by maturing into one of the best pitchers in baseball. But the specifics of this matchup benefit Lester enough that Maddon should be aggressive in calling on Lester out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, the Cubs' rotation depth is strong enough that if they can beat Pittsburgh, their No. 3 and No. 4 starters will still measure up to their next opponent, the Cardinals, in the first two games of the NLDS.