NEWSLETTER
While acknowledging that everything can change on a dime, and tests are still outstanding, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the current hope for the Cardinals is that they can drive to Chicago this weekend to play three games in two days against the White Sox. From there, the Cardinals “would also try to make up at least one of the postponed games against the Cubs with a doubleheader in the three-day series against the Cubs scheduled to start Monday at Wrigley Field.”
The Cubs and Cardinals have three games to make up from their postponed series last week, and it’s possible they’ll add one to this series, and then two to the planned four-game set in early September. For those made up games, the Cardinals would be the “home” team at Wrigley Field.
Let’s assume that can all happen. What can’t realistically happen is that the Cardinals will play ALL 55 of their remaining games at this point. And, indeed, the Commissioner’s Office has indicated to the Post-Dispatch that the Cardinals are unlikely to play all 60 games this year: “One scenario would be to play 49 games in 44 days to reach 54 for the season. An additional two doubleheaders and the Cardinals could play 51 games in 44 days and possibly get all of their NL Central games in.”
If the Cardinals can get to at least 54 games this year, I think that will allay at least some of the “competitive integrity” questions that will abound if they make the playoffs based on winning percentage. Much less than that, though? It’ll be a problem.
Safety first, though. I just hope they can actually start playing again on Saturday.
