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Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta fires shot at Pirates on Twitter ahead of Wild Card Game

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates went 98-64, the second-best record in the major leagues.

Still, they needed a win on the final day of the regular season to clinch home field in the NL Wild Card Game.

They got that win Sunday behind J.A. Happ's stellar effort and Pedro Alvarez's long home run, 4-0 over the Cincinnati Reds.

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The Pirates will host the Chicago Cubs (97-65) Wednesday in a winner-take-all playoff.

"We love playing at home," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle, whose team went 53-28 at PNC Park. "Our guys love pitching at home. There's opportunity for it to be a really good ballgame. I know our fans will show up and it will be loud and it will be proud. Our guys will be ready for it."

The Pirates announced Saturday their All-Star ace will start Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Cole is third in the National League with 19 wins. He went 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts against Chicago during the regular season.

Cole did not start last year's 8-0 wild-card loss to San Francisco after Pirates manager Clint Hurdle opted to go with Cole in the regular-season finale in the hope of catching St. Louis for the NL Central title.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two playoff starts for the Pirates during the 2013 NL Division Series against the Cardinals.

Cole will face Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, who went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA this season.

Arrieta gave the Buccos a little bit of bulletin board material on Sunday when he replied to a Pirates fan’s tweet.

“Whatever helps keep your hope alive, just know, it doesn't matter.” Arrieta said, tagging the official Cubs Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/JArrieta34/status/650799923017945088

Cole’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WPXI

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