MLB

With the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Game, Pittsburgh saw an opportunity. Capitalizing on home-field advantage is key to a successful playoff run, so why not give the players a little (legal) help?

We're not talking instructing fans to cheer or yell "charge." We're talking full-fledged instructions.

FINAL SCORE: Cubs 4-0 Pirates

The Cubs are moving on.

In a game that had pitcher's duel written all over it, Jake Arietta answered the call and helped lead the Chicago Cubs to a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card Game on Wednesday night.

Arrieta was masterful, twirling a complete-game four-hitter while striking out 11 Buccos. He worked through the game unscathed until the Pirates rallied the bases loaded in the sixth inning. However, Starling Marte ripped into a double play to end the threat.

The Chicago Cubs will need dominating pitcher Jake Arrieta to bring out his inner bear when taking on Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Wednesday night's NL Wild Card Game—what is sure to be a hard-fought, low-scoring affair.

The 2015 MLB postseason got started on a high note with Tuesday's wild-card showdown, which promises to set up an exhilarating October as the nine teams left vie for a World Series crown.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the Chicago Cubs in the one-and-done NL Wild Card Game on Wednesday night. Pittsburgh is the underdog in the eyes of a plethora of observers, many of whom are expecting to see a low-scoring affair at PNC Park.

As the people of Pittsburgh found out Wednesday, "Bucs" is a simple anagram of "Cubs."

That set the stage for a fantastic troll job by Chicago Cubs fans.

The Pirates host the Cubs at PNC Park on Wednesday night in the National League Wild Card Game. It's a win-or-go-home tilt, so the city of Pittsburgh is doing what it can to support the Pirates and create a home-field advantage.

The New York Yankees losing a one-and-done Wild Card Game at home to the Houston Astros on Tuesday night provided another harsh reminder to fans of the famous franchise: These are not your Yankees of old.

Derek Jeter was not coming to save the Yankees this time around. Johnny Damon wasn't picking up a clutch base hit. Nick Swisher could not provide an emotional boost with his energetic attitude. Jorge Posada was but a spectator.

If you live in the Atlanta metropolitan area and hear a loud, prolonged steak-fart coming over your radio Wednesday, don't be alarmed.

That's just Mike Bell explaining his tweets.

One team is down and eight more are left to be eliminated before the 2015 MLB playoffs can crown a World Series champion.

The first one to bite the dust came Tuesday night, as the Houston Astros eliminated the New York Yankees from the postseason in a 3-0 AL Wild Card Game victory in the Bronx. The victory pushes Houston forward to the American League Division Series, where three division winners are waiting.

The offseason officially started for the New York Yankees Tuesday night after they lost the American League Wild Card Game to the Houston Astros, but most of the league already had its eyes firmly set on the rebuilding winter months.