N.L. Wild Card Standings: Cardinals maintain wild card lead entering final week

With only six games left to play, the St. Louis Cardinals hold a 3-game wild card lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Milwaukee Brewers, whose playoff surge has apparently abated, remain four games back of the Cardinals. Philadelphia and Arizona have faded , and now sit 6 games out. As it stands entering this weekend's series, the Cardinals' magic number is four.

St. Louis' playoff position is far from certain, though. The Cardinals start a three-game series with the NL East-leading Washington Nationals Friday, and follow that with a three-game set against the NL Central leaders from Cincinnati. All six games will be played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, which could give the Cardinals the slight edge they need.

The Dodgers, who were tied with St. Louis just 10 days ago, have now fallen off the pace and will need to win at least three of their last six games if they are to capture the second wild card spot. Los Angeles plays three against Colorado before closing the season with a three-game series against the rival San Francisco Giants.

The Brewers, who sit four games behind St. Louis after Thursday's loss to the Reds, may have the easiest remaining schedule of the contenders. Milwaukee has three games against the cellar-dwelling Houston Astros this weekend, and close with three against San Diego. They will need to win five of those six games and hope for some help from the Cardinals, though.

A full copy of the standings can be found at Sports Illustrated.

Cardinals vs. Astros Recap: Saint Louis musters just 3 hits in 2-0 loss

A 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros keeps the Cardinals with work cut out to grab the final National League playoff spot.

Cardinals vs. Astros lineups: David Freese, Carlos Beltran will not start on Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese and outfielder Carlos Beltran are both out of the lineup on Wednesday, as the Cards go for a sweep over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

David Freese is nursing a sore ankle, and it is unclear when he'll return, although it could be on Friday following the Cardinals' off day. Meanwhile, Beltran is apparently just getting a standard rest day. Matt Carpenter is in at third base for the Cards, while Adron Chambers will take Beltran's spot in right field.

Here are the full lineups:

Cardinals

1. Jon Jay CF
2. Matt Carpenter 3B
3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Allen Craig 1B
5. Yadier Molina C
6. Adron Chambers RF
7. Daniel Descalso 2B
8. Pete Kozma SS
9. Chris Carpenter P

Astros

1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. Scott Moore RF
3. Jed Lowrie SS
4. Justin Maxwell CF
5. Brett Wallace 1B
6. Jason Castro C
7. Fernando Martinez LF
8. Brandon Laird 3B
9. Bud Norris P

Chris Carpenter is back on the mound on Wednesday, after making his first start of the season last week. He allowed two runs in five innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs. The Astros will counter with Bud Norris, who remains one of the better strikeout pitchers among NL starters, despite having a poor record and ERA.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.

St. Louis Cardinals wild card: Cardinals' playoff chances reach season-high

With their 4-0 win on the Astros on Tuesday, the Cardinals moved ever so close to the playoffs.

According to the latest odds from Baseball Prospectus, St. Louis now has a 97% probability of making the post-season.

Atlanta, at 89-65, clinched the first wild card spot in the NL playoffs on Tuesday with a walk-off HR from Freddie Freeman against the Marlins.

And while there were a lot of teams pursuing St. Louis for the second wild card spot earlier in the month, they've fallen off the pace as September rolls to a close.

The 78-76 Phillies were never able to overcome their slow start to the season while the 79-76 Brewers, the 76-78 Pirates and the 79-75 Dodgers would all need a miraculous push over the last two weeks to sneak into the playoffs.

However, as the Cardinals well know from their run last September, in baseball, you can never count anyone out until your probability of making the playoffs reaching 100%.

Bryan Anderson's great hair his primary contribution to the St. Louis Cardinals

You've got to live for something.

Jaime Garcia wins on the road (against the Astros)

Let's talk about Jaime Garcia's road splits (again.)

Cardinals vs. Astros: Chris Carpenter and St. Louis eyeing 3-game sweep

Seeking to pad their playoff resume with just one week left in the season, the St. Louis Cardinals will be thinking of a sweep on Wednesday evening against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The Cardinals outscored Houston, 10-1, over the series' first two games, and used a brilliant performance from lefty Jaime Garcia to keep the Astros from plating a single run on Tuesday. Hoping to get one of their power arms going at the ideal time, recently activated starter Chris Carpenter (0-0, 3.60 ERA) will take the mound on Wednesday for his second start of the season after missing time due to thoracic outlet syndrome.

Carpenter was limited to just 77 pitches through five innings of two-run ball in his debut last Friday, but it's likely that the 37-year-old ace will be afforded a longer leash this time around. Carpenter and his St. Louis teammates will try to get the better of Houston righty Bud Norris (5-13, 5.05 ERA) in the finale, a pitcher who has given up 12 earned runs and 10 walks over just 23 and 1/3 innings against the Cardinals this season.

Cardinals Vs. Astros Final Score: St. Louis shuts out Houston, 4-0, improves playoff odds

The St. Louis Cardinals further increased their Wild Card playoff hopes as they secured a winning series in shutting down the Houston Astros, 4-0, on Tuesday night.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia (W, 6-7) blanked the Astros in seven strong innings of work, allowing only six hits and striking out five in 92 total pitches.

Catcher Yadier Molina scored center fielder Jon Jay on a sacrifice fly for St. Louis's first run of the game in the first inning off of Houston starter Lucas Harrell (L, 10-11), who went five innings while wading through seven hits and six walks to only allow two earned runs.

Jay had two RBI on the night, driving in Garcia on a single in the second and tacking on an insurance run after grounding into a fielder's choice in the eighth. Shortstop Pete Kozma also knocked in a run in the eighth on a double to right field, scoring second baseman Daniel Descalso.

With the win, the Cardinals' lead in the National League Wild Card standings improves to four games over the closest team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Astros and Cardinals wrap up their three-game set on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.

Cardinals vs. Astros preview: St. Louis looks to continue success against Houston

The St. Louis Cardinals have their second of three games against the Houston Astros on Monday, when they look to consolidate their hold on the Wild Card by taking advantage of facing one of the National League's worst teams. St. Louis currently holds one of the two NL Wild Cards with a 3½ game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jaime Garcia (5-7, 4.25 ERA) will be on the hill for St. Louis, facing Lucas Harrell (10-10, 3.89 ERA) for Houston. The Cardinals are 10-3 against Houston in the 2012 season, but Garcia is 1-2 with a 9.64 ERA. St. Louis last faced Harrell on Sept. 19, where he gave up three runs in a 5-0 St. Louis win.

Game Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Television Coverage: FSMW, FSH
Streaming Coverage: MLB.tv

Stick with this StoryStream for lineups, scores and more from the Cardinals vs. Astros series. For more insight and analysis, check out Cardinals blog Viva El Birdos. For the perspective from Houston, check out Astros blog Crawfish Boxes.

Cardinals Vs. Astros Recap: St. Louis Takes 6-1 Road Win

The St. Louis Cardinals bats managed to score six runs in support for starting pitcher Lance Lynn, who tossed seven strong innings of work in the team's 6-1 road victory against the Houston Astros on Monday night.

Lance Lynn started the game for the Cardinals and pitched well Monday evening, allowing just one run while striking out nine batters. The Cardinals' bullpen closed the door with two clean innings of work and were able to solidify the victory for St. Louis.

Offensively, St. Louis batters remained active at the plate and were able to reach base 12 different times against the five pitchers that worked the game for Houston. The Cardinals clubbed three extra base hits, which included a pair of home runs.

With the team's third straight victory, the Cardinals were able to extend their lead over the Dodgers and Brewers to 3 ½ games. The Cardinals will send out southpaw Jaime Garcia to the mound tomorrow and he will be opposed by Houston's Lucas Harrell.

For more on Cardinals baseball, be sure to read Viva El Birdos. You can also check out everything we have to offer at Baseball Nation.

Cardinals Vs. Astros Lineups: Lance Lynn Faces Astros Again

Winners of six of their last seven, the St. Louis Cardinals look to keep a slim Wild Card lead as they open a series against the Houston Astros tonight at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

With a 2-1/2 game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the final National League Wild Card spot, the Cardinals turn to Lance Lynn (16-7, 3.79 ERA), who they hope can duplicate last week's success against the Astros. Last Wednesday, Lynn gave up just three hits over 6-1/3 innings, helping to shut out the Astros in a 5-0 win.

Houston will start left-hander Fernando Abad (0-5, 5.11), who has given up four runs in seven innings pitched against the Cardinals this season. Here are the rest of tonight's lineups:

CARDINALS (82-71)

1. Jon Jay CF
2. Carlos Beltran RF
3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Allen Craig 1B
5. Yadier Molina C
6. David Freese 3B
7. Daniel Descalso 2B
8. Pete Kozma SS
9. Lance Lynn P (16-7, 3.79 ERA)

ASTROS (50-103)

1. Jed Lowrie SS
2. Scott Moore RF
3. Brett Wallace 1B
4. Justin Maxwell CF
5. Fernando Martinez LF
6. Matt Dominguez 3B
7. Jason Castro C
8. Marwin Gonzalez 2B
9. Fernando Abad P (0-5, 5.11 ERA)

Cardinals Vs. Astros Series Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The St. Louis Cardinals head to Houston for a three-game series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.