I believe that despite all the success the Cincinnati Reds have been having over their last 25 games, the Pirates will win the division come season end. The Pirates are currently 4.5 games back of the Cincinnati Reds, and here are the reasons the Pirates will catch them.

The Pirates remaining schedule favors them with 32 home games and 19 road games remaining on the season. The Pirates are the best home team in the N.L. with a 33-16 record and with 32 games left including the final 6 of the season, 3 against the Reds.

The Reds have just 19 home games left and 29 road games including their final 6 games of the season. The Reds are 30-22 on the road this season, but will be highly tested in the final 2 months to win the division. I believe this schedule will hurt them and they will fall short to the wild card.

The Pirates have 51 games remaining, and they play the Astros 6 times, Cubs 7 times, Milwaukee 6 times, Padres 6 times, and the Mets 4 times. Thats 29 games against teams who are below .500 on the season, and are games the Pirates should win. The Pirates only have 2 series on the road against teams above .500 on the season.

The Reds have 48 games remaining in which 35 of their games are against teams below .500. That means they only have 13 games left against teams above .500. The Reds have a fairly easy schedule, but I believe the amount of road games will be the difference.

Although the odds look against the Pirates to win the N.L. Central division, my gut tells me the Pirates can finally pull it off. They will win the division by 2 games and i believe it could come down to their final series of the season against the Reds and Braves to see who wins the division.

Coach Tom