This is it

Here it is, the stretch that will tell us what our Buccos are made of. I know I keep repeating that, but, well, I think it's true. Dave Williams goes and looks to stay hot for us while Chris Carpenter takes the mound for St. Louie. ESPN's game preview has a good stat, one to watch for:

Pittsburgh has won five of its six series in May after only winning one in April. The Pirates' recent success partially can be explained by an increase in run production. Pittsburgh has scored five runs or more eight times in May and is 10-1 this season when it scores at least five times.

I think the pitching needs to hold St. Louis to 5 runs a night for us to avoid getting swept. Time will tell.