That outcome dropped the Cardinals' archrivals to three games back in the division and shaved the Cardinals' magic number to clinch the division down to eight. That outcome meant that it would take a sweep for the Cubs to vault over the Cardinals and into first place in the National League Central. Of course, sweep is what they've done here at Wrigley Field all season.
The Cardinals arrive for the four-game series on the North Side winless in six previous games here. They have been Maddux'd by Thursday starter Kyle Hendricks, they have been undone by a longtime farmhand, they have had Kris Bryant hit a grand slam, and they have seen Kyle Schwarber cause them more headaches than any other team.