Zobrist: Cubs clinching in St. Louis would be 'very satisfying'

A storied rivalry will continue Monday when the Chicago Cubs travel to St. Louis for a four-game series with the Cardinals, and Chicago's confidence appeared to be at a high before the series could get underway.

The Cubs, who took three out of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park over the weekend, widened their lead in the National League Central division to 5 1/2 games and would love to clinch the division in St. Louis against a long-time rival, according to veteran utility man Ben Zobrist.

"It would be nice to do it there," Zobrist told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "I'll just say that."

"We intend to clinch there. For a lot of the guys that have been around here for a long time, it's going to be very satisfying."

The Cardinals, who have been bitter rivals with the Cubs since the teams' first meeting in 1892, could play spoilers to their longtime adversaries, but they're also staying alive in the playoff hunt themselves.

They're six games back of the Cubs for the division lead, but just 2 1/2 games back of the Colorado Rockies for the second wild-card spot. That should create a playoff atmosphere between the two clubs at Busch Stadium over the next four days.

"It's the playoffs already for this team. We're already thinking that way," Zobrist explained. "It's a matter of wrapping up the division in the next few days and then playing well going into the postseason. We're in postseason mode right now, and we intend to continue that for the next month."

The Cubs lead the season series with the Cardinals 11-4.