Much of this Pirates’ advantage over the Cardinals took place before the Cardinals won their first World Series in 1926.

In the 25 seasons preceding that one, the Cardinals won just four season series from the Pirates, who had 148 more wins than the Cardinals had head-to-head in that time. In the three-season period from 1907-09, when the Cardinals had a 20-game loser on their staff in each season and a 25-game loser in two of them, the Pirates had a difficult-to-believe 58-7 won-lost edge against the Cardinals.

Now it is much closer and one of the best rivalries in the game.

Manager Mike Matheny likens it to the Cardinals-Houston Astros jousts of 12 to 15 years ago when he was playing with the Cardinals. From 1996-2005, either the Cardinals or Astros won the National League Central Division every year except 2003, and in 2001 they tied for first place.

“There’s just a competitiveness,” Matheny said on Monday’s off-day here, “Houston was the same deal. No matter what the matchup was, it was going to be a tight game. So dig in and buckle up because it’s going to be a tough ride. You realize there’s not going to be a marked advantage anywhere.

“But I think that’s something good teams really thrive on, too.’’