In 2021, the Cardinals surged to a NL Wild Card berth on the strength of a 17-game winning streak last September (the end of which came at the hands of the Brewers). But after being eliminated in the NL Wild Card game by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cardinals shockingly fired manager Mike Shildt.
The team replaced Shildt with bench coach Oliver Marmol who had been on the big league coaching staff since 2017. At 36, Marmol is the youngest manager in MLB. Marmol would pilot a team that contended all season. While the Brewers led the NL Central for most of the season the Cardinals were never more than 4.5 games back and spent a few days in first in mid-June. The Cardinals took charge of the division on August 6th and gradually pulled away from the Brew Crew. They clinch with an 8.5 game lead over Milwaukee.
The Cardinals will have stiff competition against the likes of the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves, 2020 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. But the Cardinals will be sentimental favorites with Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright retiring after the season. Throw NL MVP candidates Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado and no team should take the Redbirds lightly.
As for the Brewers, they still have a chance to reach the post-season as they are only 1.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the third NL Wild Card berth. The Cardinals might have overtaken the Brewers in the NL Central, but the Brewers could overtake the Cardinals in a potential post-season matchup.
The only division in MLB which has yet to be settled is the NL East where the Mets and Braves are now tied. This race will likely to go down to the last day of the regular season.
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