Since 2015, the Cardinals are 35-44 against the Cubs (including this season). Not great, but also maybe not quite as bad as you might expect considering the Cubs have been the darlings of baseball for the last five seasons. In 2019, the rivalry has a chance to be at its absolute best, and play a pivotal role in shaping the look of the postseason.
While the season series between these two fierce rivals got off to a disappointing start for the Cardinals this past weekend as they were swept in Chicago, it was really just the scene-setter for what figures to be a fight all the way down to the final day of the regular season.
Seven of the Cardinals' last 10 games of the 2019 regular season are against the Cubs.
In a division that's looking like the best in baseball so far, wild card spots and a division title could very well come down to the very end of September.
Of course wins in May count the same as wins in September, but the anticipated drama is still fun to think about.
Coming into the season, there was not as much love for the Cubs as there has been in the past, with many publications picking the Cardinals, and sometimes the Brewers, to finish ahead of Chicago.
Those projections looked accurate through mid-April, as the Cubs got off to an uninspired start to the season. Now, they've exploded into May and find themselves at the top of the NL Central.
After this first series in Chicago, the rivals will meet up 16 more times in 2019.
With polarizing players like Javy Baez, Paul Goldschmidt, Yadier Molina, Willson Contreras, Marcell Ozuna, Anthony Rizzo and Jordan Hicks, the rivalry will probably be adding some classic moments to its storied history this season.
And although we haven't seen any on-field "extracurricular activities" so far, Kris Bryant's offseason comments on St. Louis and the Cardinals will certainly make for some interesting at-bats from the Cubs' third baseman at Busch Stadium.
The landscape of the 2019 postseason could depend on what happens between the Cardinals and Cubs this season.
It's very possible the NL Central could be sending three teams to October, and those Cards/Cubs series' will help determine who's waltzing to the NLDS, and who has to battle it out in a winner-take-all wild card game.
So, buckle up. All signs point to the road to October baseball running down highway 55 from Chicago to St. Louis.
And let's be honest. The baseball season is more exciting when both these teams are playing with postseason aspirations on the line.
