Cardinals-Pirates Series Quick Hits

Sep 8, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker (18) falls over St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday (7) as he attempts to turn a double play at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

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Editor’s Note: This was published before the Rays’s victory over the Indians this making it the second time division opponents will play against each other in the divisional series.

It’s October and the Pirates are finally in the postseason. Unfortunately for them, they have to play the battle tested St. Louis Cardinals. Here are some quick hits on the Cardinals-Pirates series.

– This is the first time in MLB history that two teams from the same division will faceoff in the NL Divisional series. It’s first time since 2011 where two division opponents will face each other in the playoffs (Brewers-Cardinals played in the NLCS in 2011).

– The last time two teams from the same division met in the playoffs that wasn’t from the NL Central was in 2007 when Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies swept the Arizona Diamondbacks. 2007 was the year Clint Hurdle went 21-1 en route to a NL Pennant.

– The Cardinals are in the playoffs for the 4th time in 5 years. Since 2000, the Cardinals have gone to the playoffs 10 times in 14 seasons. That’s more than any other National League team in that span. The Yankees have made the playoffs 12 times in 14 seasons, missing the playoffs in 2008 and 2013.

– The Cardinals will have 6 rookies in the bullpen and rookie Shelby Miller in the starting rotation to bring the the total to 7 rookies in the Cardinals pitching staff. That has to be a record of some kind. I am not quite sure if it’s a good one or a bad one. Time will tell.

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