Reds vs. Cardinals: A Series Sweep for Either Alters Entire NL Central Race

Cincinnati had a chance to take three out of four against Philadelphia Thursday night, but they could not hold on to a late lead and fell in extra innings.

Hardly anybody is going to take notice or have time to reflect on the late loss, however—the next three games are that important.

The upcoming series with St. Louis at Great American Ball Park this weekend could be a turning point in not only the wild-card race but the divisional race as well. Currently sitting seven games back in the NL Central, the Cardinals will be pushing to claim a series win to cut the divisional lead by at least a game, with 31 games for the Reds to play following the series.

While a seven-game gap is still a healthy one for the hosts, the Red Birds are beginning to heat up again, which is never a comfortable proposition considering what a hot St. Louis did last season.

That’s why a series sweep could potentially tilt the divisional race one way or another and put the series winner in great position going into the stretch run. If Cincinnati were to hold serve at home and take all three games, St. Louis would not only fall 10 games behind the leaders, they might find themselves trailing in the wild-card standings as well.

The Cardinals are a game in front of Pittsburgh and a game-and-a-half in front of Los Angeles for the second wild-card spot, but three losses could find them behind both squads depending on how things play out.

In addition, it would mean that in order for St. Louis to draw even with the Reds, they would need to win 10 more than Cincy in the 31 remaining games over the same stretch.

This would be the dream scenario for Cincinnati. Instead of worrying about St. Louis chasing them down, the Reds could sit back, watch and see if the Cardinals get through the slog of beating out two others for a playoff place.

Conversely, a St. Louis sweep throws the division race wide open. It would whittle the Cincinnati lead to four games and, if Pittsburgh gets it together, recreate a three-team race for the NL Central again.

With a red-hot Cardinals squad going into September, Cincinnati fans could be forgiven for showing some apprehension from the danger St. Louis presents. Even the return of Joey Votto might not allay the fears of the Redleg Nation to any extent.

What that might do for Cardinals fans needs no explanation. A four-game difference in the standings is one that is certainly manageable for the Cards to overcome.

It would mean that the series between the two in St. Louis over the final three games of the regular season might have the potential to be the difference between the NL Central winners, a second wild-card spot, or one team making the postseason over the other.

That may be the case regardless, but much of what the final month of the season brings for both clubs starts Friday night.