The Los Angeles Dodgers' sweep of the Colorado Rockies this week moved LA ahead of Colorado in the NL West standings and allowed the Cardinals, with two wins in Atlanta, to increase their lead on the Rockies for the second wild-card berth. The Cardinals have a 1 1/2-game lead on the Rockies. They trail Milwaukee by three games for the first wild-card berth. The Cardinals can keep pace with the Brewers this weekend and have a crack at catching them when they visit for a three-game series to close the 2018 home schedule next week.
Back from his break in Atlanta, Matt Carpenter is leading off and playing first for the Cardinals.