The Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 on Friday at Wrigley Field, placing the Colorado Rockies one game closer to the playoffs.
The worst-case scenario for Colorado is a Game 163 play-in affair should the Rockies lose their remaining three games and the Cardinals beat the Cubs on Saturday and Sunday. But with a victory tonight against the Nationals at Coors Field, the Rockies will guarantee themselves no worse than the second wild-card spot.
Colorado still controls its own destiny in the National League West, and by sweeping this weekend’s home series against Washington, the Rockies will capture their first ever division crown.