The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers officially are set to meet in the 2021 National League Wild Card Game on Wednesday, Oct. 6. First pitch at Dodger Stadium is set for 5:10 p.m. PT, and the game will be nationally televised by TBS.
While the Dodgers extended their franchise record with a ninth consecutive postseason appearance, the streak of NL West titles was snapped at eight by the San Francisco Giants. Prior to learning their postseason fate, the Dodgers punched their ticket for October baseball on Sept. 14.
The following night they clinched home-field advantage for a potential berth in the Wild Card Game. This marks the Dodgers’ first ever appearance in the one-game playoff, though they were the NL Wild Card team in 1996 and 2006, which was prior to the format expanding in 2012.
The Cardinals were the Wild Card team in 2001 and again in 2011, when they went on to win the World Series. St. Louis additionally played in the inaugural NL Wild Card Game in 2012, as they defeated the Atlanta Braves but ultimately were eliminated in the NL Championship Series.
Although the Dodgers long knew they would be playing in October in some capacity, the Cardinals did not have such a luxury.
St. Louis wound up making up significant ground in the standings by stringing together a franchise-record 17-game winning streak.
While common amongst all teams and presumably not limited to the Cardinals, the Dodgers had several scouts in attendance when the Cardinals clinched their playoff berth.
The Dodgers won four of seven games against the Cardinals this season, including taking two of three at Dodger Stadium.
Cardinals vs. Dodgers postseason history
Prior to this year, St. Louis and L.A. have met three times in the playoffs, with the results largely one-sided. Their last postseason matchup came in the 2014 NL Division Series, which the Cardinals won in four games.
The Dodgers also were eliminated by them the year prior in the NL Championship Series. The 2009 NLDS marks the only time the Dodgers have ever eliminated the Cardinals in the playoffs.
Muncy injured
Perhaps of greater concern for the Dodgers than facing a single-elimination scenario is Max Muncy leaving the finale of the regular season with an apparent left arm/wrist injury.
The Dodgers already anticipated being without Clayton Kershaw, who was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left forearm discomfort.
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