(KMOX) - About seven weeks ago, the St. Louis Cardinals had a 1.3% chance of making the playoffs. Two weeks ago, it was still at only 4.7%. As of Wednesday morning, St. Louis has a 90.2% chance to make the playoffs – according to Fangraphs.
A 10-game winning streak in September can do wonders.
The 2-1 win on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers earned St. Louis its first 10-game winning streak since 2001. In the Cardinals' 130 year history this team is just the 13th to ever pull off the feat.
Tuesday's win also guaranteed St. Louis a season with an above .500 record for the 14 year in a row. That's the second-longest active streak in baseball (New York Yankees will reach 28 this year). If St. Louis goes above .500 again in 2022 it will tie the longest streak of winning seasons in Cardinals history. St. Louis had 15 winning seasons between 1939 and 1953.
But what about this year and specifically the past two weeks? Well, a few key factors have been veteran pitching (i.e. Adam Wainwright, J.A. Happ, Jon Lester and T.J. McFarland), scoring in the first inning (which St. Louis had done in five of its last six games) and new roles in the bullpen (Giovanny Gallegos closing, Luis Garcia thriving and Alex Reyes earning his stripes again).
And there's even more good to look forward to, as the destined ace of the staff, Jack Flaherty, could be back on Friday as the team's opener in a doubleheader vs the Cubs. He faced live hitters in Milwaukee before Tuesday’s game and manager Mike Shildt teased the possible return. Also, one of St. Louis' most consistent pitchers of 2020, Dakota Hudson, is set for his final rehab assignment today and may make his 2021 debut next week.
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