The MLB playoffs might be missing a few teams we are used to seeing, but one recent October constant will continue. The St. Louis Cardinals clinched a playoff spot on Sunday when the Brewers fell, 1-0, to the Pirates.
Cardinals clinch playoff spot with Brewers’ loss
St. Louis reaches the postseason for the 11th time in 15 seasons. The Cardinals’ magic number for winning the NL Central is five.
Michael B. Thomas
St. Louis, owners of a 3-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central, can finish no worse than with a wild card spot.
The Cardinals have made the playoffs four straight years, including winning the division in 2013. From 2000-2013, St. Louis made the playoffs 10 times in 14 years and during that span played in eight National League Championship Series and four World Series, winning two.
The perennial playoff participants averaged 91 victories per season in that 14-year run, and with 87 wins this year are on pace for a 91-win campaign. But it wasn’t smooth sailing for St. Louis in 2014.
The Cardinals trailed in the division by as many as 6½ games as late as July 1, hovering just over .500 for most of the first half. But after that 44-40 start St. Louis is 43-28, and now the team has a magic number of five to clinch the division over the Pirates.
The National League Wild Card Game will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and will be televised by ESPN. Both National League Division Series will start on Friday, Oct. 3.
See More:
