MLB Playoff Picture: Who Stands a Better Chance at Wild Card, Cardinals or Rays?

With both the St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays grinding it out for the Wild Card in their respective leagues, which team has the better chance of reaching the postseason?

With only two games left to play in the regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays just tied the Boston Red Sox for the lead in the American League wild card standings. On the other hand, the St. Louis Cardinals currently sit one game behind the first place Atlanta Braves, who have been struggling mightily as of late.

With a spot in the playoffs up for grabs, let's take a look at which team has the advantage in the final two games of the season.

1. Place in Standings?

This one is obvious, so let's just get it out of the way.

The Rays just beat the New York Yankees on Monday night and in turn, are now tied for the lead in the American League wild card standings. Their fate is in their own hands in the final two games, and the Rays wouldn't want it any other way.

On the other hand, the St. Louis Cardinals are one game back from the Braves, which makes it a little more challenging for the Redbirds. Even if the Cardinals win their last two games, the Braves will win the Wild Card as long as they win out.

Advantage: Rays

2. Who Has the Easier Opponent?

In the final two games, the Rays will be facing the New York Yankees, who currently have a 97-63 record. During the 2011 season, the Rays lost the season series 6-9.

On the other hand, the Cardinals will be playing the lowly Houston Astros, who currently have a 56-104 record. In 2011, the Cardinals have won the season series 8-4.

Not much room for debate here.

Advantage: Cardinals

3. Who Does Each Team Have Pitching?

In the Rays first game, they will send Jeremy Hellickson to the mound, who has a 13-10 record and a 2.90 ERA. In his career against the Yankees, Hellickson is 2-1, with a 4.09 ERA.

After that, the Rays will send out their ace in David Price, who is currently 12-13, and a 3.35 ERA. In his career against the Yankees, Price is 1-1, with a 4.26 ERA.

In the Cardinals first game, they are scheduled to start Jake Westbrook, who is currently posting a 12-9 record, and a 4.48 ERA. In his career against the Houston Astros, Westbrook is 2-0, with a 2.28 ERA. 

Finally, the Cardinals will send out an ace of their own in Chris Carpenter, who currently has a 10-9 record, and a 3.59 ERA. Against the Astros, Carpenter has a lifetime 7-5 record, with a 2.79 ERA.

Advantage: Cardinals

4. Which Team Plays Home or Away?

The Tampa Bay Rays will be playing in the friendly confines of Tropicana Field for their final two games. While playing at home, the Rays are 44-34, a respectable .564 winning percentage.

Conversely, the St. Louis Cardinals will be playing in Houston against the Astros. While playing away from home this season, the Cardinals are 43-35, which is a very impressive away record.

However, playing at home with playoff implications on the line can do wonders for a ball club.

Advantage: Rays

5. Which Team Has the Better Offense?

The Cardinals are an offensive juggernaut due to their top-five rankings in every major offensive category. They rank fifth in runs, fifth in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage and fifth in slugging percentage.

On the other hand, the Rays are no more than a middle-of-the-pack offense. They rank 16th in runs, 26th in batting average, 14th in on-base percentage and 15th in slugging percentage.

This one isn't even close.

Advantage: Cardinals

6. Who Has Been Hotter as of Late?

In their last 10 games, the Rays are 6-4 and currently have a modest three-game winning streak in the works.

Similarly, in their last 10 games, the Cardinals are 6-4, and they have slowly been picking away at the Braves lead.

While both teams have been identically hot as of late, the Rays could have the advantage due to the free fall that the Red Sox are currently experiencing.

Advantage: Tie

Who Has the Better Chance?

This was hard, but I have to give the nod to the St. Louis Cardinals.

One would think that the team tied for first place should have the advantage, but the Rays have a couple of things working against them.

First of all, they are playing the Yankees. As much as the Yankees would love to see the Red Sox miss the playoffs, I strongly doubt that they would purposefully blow their final two games just to spite their rivals.

Secondly, the Red Sox are playing their final two games in Baltimore, a team that they have beaten up on in 2011. They will also have two of their best starting pitchers start those games, Erik Bedard and Josh Beckett.

Moreover, the Cardinals will be playing the worst team in MLB in the Houston Astros. The two pitchers they have going in those games have excellent numbers against the Astros, one of which is their ace in Chris Carpenter.

On the other hand, the Braves will be facing the Philadelphia Phillies, who are looking to pick up a little momentum going into the playoffs.