National League Review

This past weekend the five almost certain National League tournament qualifiers either swept or got swept in three game series.

Two were in head to head battles between the likely qualifiers, while the “out of the tournament” Phillies won all three games at home vs the Atlanta Braves.

The St. Louis Cardinals, after losing three of four games in Cincinnati (vs the Reds), won all three weekend games at home vs the Pittsburgh Pirates. That leaves the “Redbirds” one and a half games ahead in the N.L. Central.

Meanwhile the Reds kept winning, sweeping the N.L. West leading L.A. Dodgers in a three game weekend series in Cincinnati. The Reds, one percentage point (.570 to .569) behind the Pirates, are just one and a half games behind the Cardinals.

Both the Pirates and Reds are 8 games ahead for qualification. Earlier in the week the Pirates won two of three games in Milwaukee vs the Brewers.

Despite being swept over the weekend in three game series and being on 4 game losing streaks, both the Braves and Dodgers are still almost certain division winners.