:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20609931/gyi0060307074.0.jpg)
I've always kind of thought of National League baseball as cheating that's okay. Yeah, when push comes to shove, I'm probably going to pull for the Athletics as the postseason rolls out and we get some AL games. But it's gonna feel just a little weird rooting for a division rival, a league rival, a you-stole-my-favorite-platoon-catcher-and-give-him-back rival.
National League baseball? Not the case. Why root against the Cardinals? Because I'm tired of seeing them in the playoffs. Simple as that. Why root against the Braves? Easy. But I guess it doesn't really matter. All the NL teams are legacy teams, so there is no stupid domed baseball or mid 90's expansion team stuff going on. Everything annoying about these teams comes with a bit of caveat, as their long history can give some of us at least something to be interested in. Or at the very least, we are going to see a lot more on-camera interviews with 98 year old ushers on TBS.
At the end of the day, its like getting away with cheating. Doesn't really matter who you root for. Baseball is baseball, and I'm just glad we get a day filled with the kind that matters.
But seriously, go Pirates.
Game 1: Pirates vs Cardinals- 2:00 PM PST, TBS
Pirates:
1. Starling Marte (R) LF
2. Neil Walker (S) 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Justin Morneau (L) 1B
5. Marlon Byrd (R) RF
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 3B
7. Russell Martin (R) C
8. Clint Barmes (R) SS
9. A.J. Burnett (R) P
Cardinals:
1. Matt Carpenter (L) 2B
2. Carlos Beltran (S) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Matt Adams (L) 1B
5. Yadier Molina (R) C
6. Jon Jay (L) CF
7. David Freese (R) 3B
8. Daniel Descalso (L) SS
9. Adam Wainwright (R) P
Game 2: Dodgers vs Braves- 5:30 PM PST, TBS
Dodgers:
1. Carl Crawford (L) LF
2. Mark Ellis (R) 2B
3. Hanley Ramirez (R) SS
4. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
5. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
6. Juan Uribe (R) 3B
7. Skip Schumaker (L) CF
8. A.J. Ellis (R) C
9. Clayton Kershaw (L) P
Braves:
1. Jason Heyward (L) CF
2. Justin Upton (R) RF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Evan Gattis (R) LF
5. Brian McCann (L) C
6. Chris Johnson (R) 3B
7. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
8. Elliot Johnson (S) 2B
9. Kris Medlen (S) P