X
WATCH & READ
What happened to the San Francisco Giants?
2:51
Loading
The Giants started their biggest series of the season Thursday night at AT&T Park. The four-game set pits two of the top three contenders for the National League wild-card spot against each other, and could play a huge role in deciding who plays on and who goes home at the end of the season.
From a historical perspective, there's even more at stake. If the Giants stumble in this series against the Cardinals, and lose out to the Cards and Mets in the NL wild-card race, they'll have pulled off an ignominious feat: one of the biggest collapses the sport has seen in more than half a century.