In MLB at that time, the two teams with the best record in each league who did not win a division played against each other in the Wild Card Game.

The starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates was Gerrit Cole and the starter for the Chicago Cubs was Jake Arrieta.

Kyle Schwarber drove in the games' first run with an RBI single in the top of the 1st to give the Cubs a 1–0 lead.

In the top of the 3rd, Schwarber hit a two-run home run to right field that went into the Allegheny River to give the Cubs a 3–0 lead.

Arrieta went the whole 9 innings giving up 5 hits and struck out 11 batters as the Cubs won the game 4–0 to advance to the NLDS.