WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates are ready for Buctober.

The Pirates host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night in the National League wild card game. It’s Pittsburgh’s second straight postseason appearance after two decades of losing.

The Pirates won 94 games a year ago and the wild card game before falling to St. Louis in the division series.

Pittsburgh’s trip to the postseason may have been even more impressive this time around. The Pirates were 12-20 at one point but slowly rallied. They won 17 games in September to pass Milwaukee and catch the Giants.

Edinson Volquez will get the start for the Pirates on Wednesday. The right-hander won 13 games and went 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his final 11 starts of the regular season.

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AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

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