Scheduling Conflict: A Week-By-Week Breakdown of the N.L. Central Race

It was an exciting night of opposites in the National League Central.

The Cardinals came back as Francisco Rodriguez and the Mets blew a late lead, eventually winning a lopsided game thanks to Albert Pujols' fifth grand slam of the season.

Meanwhile, the Cubs held onto a lead in the ninth inning just for the heck of it. After all, you can't blow them all, can you?

After those two games ended, the division was virtually tied, with the Cubs having a two-game lead in the loss column.

So let's look ahead to the end of the season. What do the schedules look like for these two ancient rivals as they battle everyone but each other (they only face each other for three games the rest of the way).

Aug. 5-9

Cubs:

1 @ Cincinnati (Wed)
3 @ Colorado* (Fri-Mon)

Cardinals:

1 @ NY Mets (Wed)
3 @ Pittsburgh (Fri-Sun)

ADVANTAGE: Cardinals

Why? The Cubs are at Colorado, who is ahead of both the Cubs and Cardinals in the Wild Card standings, while the Cardinals visit the Little Sisters of the Poor for three games in front of 4,000 people with self-esteem issues.

Aug. 10-16

Cubs:

1 @ Colorado (wrap-around since Friday)
3 vs Philadelphia
3 vs Pittsburgh

Cardinals:

3 vs Cincinnati
3 vs San Diego

ADVANTAGE: Cardinals

Why? Because the Cubs have three games against losers, while the Cardinals have six.

Aug. 17-23

Cubs:

3 @ San Diego
4 @ Los Angeles

Cardinals:

3 @ Los Angeles
4 @ San Diego

ADVANTAGE: Cardinals

Why? The Cubs somehow got shafted and get an extra against the Dodgers, while the Cardinals get an extra one against the Padres.

This is also the second consecutive week the Cubs have without a day off, while the Cardinals will play just 13 games in the 14 days.

Aug. 24-30

Cubs:

3 vs Washington
3 vs New York

Cardinals:

3 vs Houston
3 vs Washington

ADVANTAGE: Push

Why? If Roy Oswalt's back continues to be an issue, this week could swing to the Cardinals. The Astros and Mets have lots of offense when they're awake and healthy, but neither team is doing much of that these days.

And the three home games against Washington for each is a nice mini-All Star Break at the end of August.

Aug. 31 - Sept. 6

Cubs:

3 vs Houston
1 vs Chicago White Sox
3 @ New York

Cardinals:

3 vs Milwaukee
3 @ Pittsburgh

ADVANTAGE: Cardinals

Why? The Cardinals are home against an imploding Brewers team before heading to Pittsburgh (again). Meanwhile, the Cubs have a make-up game against the White Sox in between two winnable series.

The Cardinals can rake at home and in Pittburgh, but the Cubs' fly ball-oriented batting order might struggle in the cavernous Citi Field.

Oh, and Jake Peavy might be back for the White Sox in time for the one-game makeup.

Sept. 7-13

Cubs:

3 @ Pittsburgh
3 vs Cincinnati

Cardinals:

3 @ Milwaukee
3 vs Atlanta

ADVANTAGE: Cubs

Why? The Ciubs get two teams that are falling apart, while the Cardinals get an Atlanta team that might be in the Wild Card hunt still.

The Braves also have a much better pitching staff than the Reds or, obviously, the Pirates.

September 14-20

Cubs:

4 vs Milwaukee
3 @ St Louis

Cardinals:

3 vs Florida
3 vs Chicago

ADVANTAGE: Cardinals

Why? Because they have an off day, at home, before the Cubs come in for what could shape up to be the biggest three-game series on the entire Major League Calendar the rest of the season.

This could very well shape up to be a chess match that takes place in the games leading up to the three games in St. Louis as well, with the Cubs playing a Brewers team that will likely be out of it but the Cardinals having three against a scrappy Marlins squad.

How Tony La Russa and Lou Piniella are able to fix their rotations and get their bullpens adequate rest coming into this series could be huge.

Sept. 21-27

Cubs:

3 @ Milwaukee
4 @ San Francisco

Cardinals:

3 @ Houston
3 @ Colorado

ADVANTAGE: Cardinals

Why? They play fewer games against lesser competition.

The Astros and Brewers series are likely a wash, but the four games in San Francisco, against arguably the best pitching staff in the National League, is substantially easier to stomach than three games in Colorado, where the Cardinals could hit their way to three wins.

This week also extends the Cubs to another 14 games in 14 days stretch, while the Cardinals play just 12 in these 14.

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4

Cubs:

3 vs Pittsburgh
3 vs Arizona

Cardinals

3 @ Cincinnati
3 vs Milwaukee

ADVANTAGE: Cubs

Why? Because they have the Pirates on their schedule, and finish with six straight at home.

That's not to say the Cardinals will have a tough road through two struggling teams that will be playing for "pride" at this point.

How Does It Add Up?

The conversation from this photo might happen again in October....

Based on the schedule, taking into account the weekly matchups and the Cubs having four more games than the Cardinals, it looks (on paper) like the St. Louis Cardinals will advance to the post-season as the champions of the National League Central.

But...

Cubs Get In Anyway!

The Cubs have been playing great baseball since the All Star Break, and figure to continue their solid play as their team gets more healthy.

Looking at the Cubs' schedule in relation to the Rockies and Giants, the current leaders for the Wild Card, it looks like the Cubs (again, on paper) have a great shot at winning the Wild Card in the National League.

So what does that mean?

Playoff Matchups

Phillies vs Cardinals....

CUBS vs DODGERS? AGAIN?????

We'll deal with October when we get there. For now, we throw out the paper these schedules are written on and watch these teams play the games.