The Pirates entered the second half of the season with a one-game lead over the Reds in the National League Central.

After being swept by the Cubs this weekend, Pittsburgh has dropped 25 of their last 39 games. They went five games without hitting a home run last week despite the four-highest homer total in the NL.

For the second straight season, the Pirates are stumbling down the stretch.

They enter the week at 72-67, 11 games back of Cincinnati in the division. They are two games back of St. Louis and Atlanta for one of the NL's two Wild Card spots.

With 23 games remaining, the Pirates will have to go 10-13 to ensure a winning season.