The first game of the Cardinals-Cubs opening-round playoff series, on Friday, drew the best television rating ever in St. Louis for a Game 1 in the divisional round. Nielsen says 27.8 percent of homes in the market tuned in to the coverage, on TBS.
The previous mark was 20.7, for Game 1 of the Redbirds-Washington matchup in 2012 that also was on TBS. Last year, the opener of the Cards-Los Angeles series, on Fox Sports 1, generated a 17.4 rating in St. Louis.
And the Cardinals not only beat the Cubs on the field on Friday, 4-0, but St.