Sunday's 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs was an important one for the St. Louis Cardinals. Not only did the victory clinch a winning season, it kept their lead in the National League Wild Card race at 2.5 games as the season winds to a close.
St. Louis likely will not catch Atlanta, they team they edged last season for the wild card on their way to a World Series title. The Braves are six games ahead of St. Louis for the first wild card with nine games to play. The Cardinals have a 2.5 game lead over Milwaukee and 3.5 game lead over Los Angeles heading into the final full week.
The schedule is very favorable for St. Louis too, as they have three games at last place Houston before hosting Cincinnati and Washington. Both the Reds and Nationals may have their best playoff position locked up and could rest players as well.
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