Playoff percentages: Cardinals lose ground, Angels still in the fight
Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff races, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
St. Louis Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez imploded in the sixth inning Friday against the Chicago Cubs and was charged with seven earned runs in the eventual 8-2 loss at Wrigley Field.
The Cardinals entered the game trailing the Cubs by two games for the division lead, but the loss dropped them to three games back, and saw their playoff percentage drop significantly to 13.6.
St. Louis' loss was made even more detrimental with the Milwaukee Brewers knocking off the Miami Marlins at Miller Park - a game that was actually a home game for the Marlins, who were displaced following Hurricane Irma.
National League
| Team | Result | Playoff Pct | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockies | W 6-1 vs. Padres | 83.8% | +4.1% |
| Cubs | W 8-2 vs. Cardinals | 82.5% | +7.5% |
| Brewers | W 10-2 vs. Marlins | 20.1% | +3.7% |
| Cardinals | L 8-2 vs. Cubs | 13.6% | -9.6% |
Over in the Junior Circuit, the Los Angeles Angels were able to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a 7-6 win over the visiting Texas Rangers. The win, combined with the Minnesota Twins' loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, moved the Halos back to within two games of the Twins for the second wild-card spot, and boosted their playoff percentage to 20.6.
American League
| Team | Result | Playoff Pct | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twins | L 4-3 vs. Blue Jays | 68.9% | -8.4% |
| Angels | W 7-6 vs. Rangers | 20.6% | 9.6% |