PITTSBURGH -- Say what you will about the Pittsburgh Pirates questionable moves at the trade deadline or the poor numbers former National League Most Valuable Player Andrew McCutchen has had most of the season.Right now, things are looking up.Going into what could be a wild-card showdown against the Miami Marlins starting Friday at PNC Park, the Pirates are en fuego.Pittsburgh (62-56), which was off Thursday, just completed a 5-1 West Coast road trip -- including a three-game sweep in San Francisco. Since June 24, the Pirates 28-17 record is the best in baseball.They stand one game behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot, and 1 1/2 games ahead of Miami (62-59) in that chase after the Marlins dropped a 5-4 decision at Cincinnati on Thursday night.Weve been a confident group all year. Road trips like this really bring a team together, Pittsburgh closer Tony Watson told MLB.com. Were playing great baseball right now. Playing well down the stretch has been key the last few years. ... This year is no different.McCutchens two-run homer Thursday, his 17th of the season, was huge in a 6-5 win over the Giants. Although he is batting .248 overall, McCutchens average in August is .317.Ive turned something, McCutchen told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. I dont know if its turning a page or a corner or something. Things are going well for us. Going well for me, too.Ive been getting pitches to hit, hitting them, having good at-bats, seeing the ball. They try to hit a location. Miss a location, Im able to make them pay.An unexpected bump in the Pirates good play recently is right-hander Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.17 ERA), who is scheduled to start Friday. The presumed ace of the staff entering the season has dealt with some inconsistency and injuries.In his past two starts, Cole is 0-2, has failed to get through the sixth inning and has given up a combined nine runs on 15 hits. However, he could be aided by being at home, where he has a 2.94 ERA over his past nine starts.The Marlins are not as comfortable at PNC Park, where they are 16-31.On Friday, Miami will start right-hander Tom Koehler (9-8, 3.86 ERA), who is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates.However, Koehler has been arguably the Marlins best starter of late. In his past five starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.36 ERA.Its not like he doesnt have good stuff, Miami manager Don Mattingly told reporters earlier this month. His stuff is good.Hes got a good breaking ball that most guys dont really hit. He can change speeds and hes a little erratic. He can be effectively wild. You dont quite know what youre going to get with Tom. To me, thats part of his success.Success that hasnt been matched team-wide lately. Miami has lost three straight games, three series in a row and four of its past five series.The Pirates, meanwhile, have won four consecutive series and could put some distance between themselves and the Marlins in the wild-card scenario this weekend.Obviously, this is the time of year teams make or break themselves, Pittsburghs Matt Joyce told MLB.com. Its nice to see some guys turn the corner and keep fighting and keep pushing, because its very easy to just say, Were not in the race, and just kind of roll over. Its exciting, man. Its exciting to be a part of, and were having a lot of fun.Eden Hazard Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Gary Cahill Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Willy-Caballero-Jersey/ . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Callum Hudson-Odoi Chelsea Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed.SAN FRANCISCO -- Two teams being cautious with injured players, getting acquainted with new ones and perhaps still shopping for upgrades, will hook up for a fourth time in four days on Sunday when the Washington Nationals take on the San Francisco Giants.The Nationals have won two of the first three in the battle of National League division leaders, but the Giants are the ones coming off a 5-3 win Saturday.On a day when the Nationals acquired a new closer, the Giants new utility infielder, Eduardo Nunez, was one of the heroes in the win.Nunez, picked up Thursday from Minnesota, collected two hits, including a two-run double that ignited a Giants comeback from an early 3-0 deficit.It helped San Francisco avoid what would have been a fourth straight loss.Thats the reason they brought me here, Nunez boasted. To win games.Nunez started at shortstop in place of Brandon Crawford, who suffered a bruised left hand in Fridays loss.Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he hopes to have Crawford back in the lineup Sunday, which could mean a second position in two days for the versatile Nunez.The Giants figure to have an opening in center field Sunday, with Denard Span likely to miss a second consecutive game because of a strained quad that occurred during a collision at first base in Fridays game.Nunez has played 29 games in the outfield in his seven-year career.The Nationals are hoping new closer Mark Melancon arrives in time for the series finale after having been acquired in a trade with the Piittsburgh Pirates shortly before the start of Saturdays game.ddddddddddddWashington dealt two left-handers -- major-leaguer Felipe Rivero and minor-leaguer Taylor Hearn -- in order to get the All-Star.Even a midgame arrival by Melancon would be fine for the ninth-inning specialist, Nationals manager Dusty Baker assured.Were getting some reinforcements, the veteran skipper proudly declared.Baker wasnt so confident about star second baseman Daniel Murphy after having sat him out of Saturdays game.Murphy felt tightness in his left leg in the cold San Francisco weather during Thursday nights game, then tried to play through it on Friday.He had to be pulled midway through the win, and was given the full game off Saturday.Still being precautionary, Baker said of Murphy.He remains questionable for Sunday.With trade winds swirling around both teams, Bochy and Baker are comforted in knowing theyve got veteran starting pitchers going Sunday.The Giants will go with 12-year veteran Matt Cain, who will be seeking his 100th victory in a San Francisco uniform.Cain has a 5-5 record and 3.64 ERA in 15 career starts against the Nationals.Washington will counter with nine-year veteran Gio Gonzalez, who spent his first four years across the bay from San Francisco with the Oakland Athletics.Gonzalez sports a 3-3 record and 3.33 ERA in nine career starts against the Giants. 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