Good morning, Cardinal Nation.
Around this time yesterday, Busch Stadium was preparing for an unknown opponent.
Pressure washers sprayed concrete.
Yellow ropes blocked off the still-drying "NLDS" painted on the grass.
In the outfield, two workers ran their hands over the new National League Central Division championship sign, making sure it stuck.
"They're both good teams," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said while his club worked out. "We saw that in April. We knew this was going to be a tough division."
No more uncertainty.
For the second time in two seasons, a stellar pitcher pushed the Pirates off the plank in the play-in game.