The Cardinals have lost 11 of their last 15 after getting swept by the Padres with a 3-2 loss Thursday. Despite the free fall, the Cardinals still hold the second wild card spot. Pittsburgh and the Dodgers continue to struggle while Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Arizona are making a late run. However, the final 19 games of the schedule favors the Cardinals.
The Dodgers remain one game behind the Cardinals as the teams start what could be a season deciding four-game series for either team in Los Angeles. The Pirates have dropped seven in a row and went 5-16 since their 19 inning win over the Cardinals on August 19th. Pittsburgh remains just 2.5 games behind the Cards.
On the 19th, the Brewers were 12 games under .500 and now sit at 72-71 and three games out of the wild card. Philadelphia is 18-6 in their last 24 games and winners of seven in a row and are also three behind the Cardinals, while Arizona sits just four games back.
“Overall, it doesn’t matter (how hard the team plays) because it all comes down to whether you win,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “They are still aware of the sense of urgency.”
While this is a rough patch for the Cardinals, after this four game series with LA, the Cardinals will play six games against Houston and three against the Cubs, before finishing the season with three games at home each against Washington and Cincinnati. Both of those teams have their division’s wrapped up and won’t have much to play for during the final week of the season.
