Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is sticking with his plan to start Gerrit Cole today. Hurdle told reporters this morning the decision to start Cole is simple.

A Pirates win and Cardinals loss would force a one game playoff on Monday between the Pirates and Cardinals for the NL Central title.
The Pirates, though, are rolling the dice here as they have now taken Cole and Liriano out of the mix to start the Wild Card game which remains the Pirates most likely situation, as the Cardinals send Adam Wainwright to the mound today against the Diamondbacks.
Not to mention the Pirates face Reds ace Johnny Cueto who is going for his 20th win.

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