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With half the season completed , the Cards won 44 games . Here is the current situation for the playoff race in the final half .
The Dodgers have a 6 game lead in the NL West and the Cubs a 3 game lead in the Central. The Phillies/Mets have battle in the East.
So of the 6 teams that qualify for the playoffs, the Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Mets appear to have a excellent shot of being 4 of the 6 .

That leaves 2 more spots up for grabs. Currently , the Brewers, , Padres , Giants and Cardinals are next in line.

Any head to head games in the 2nd half of the season will be very important. Here are 28 games that could decide the Cardinals fate if they are going to grab one of the six spots : Maybe circle these dates on your calendar
July 4-6 Cubs , July 24-27 Four games at Busch vs. Padres , Aug. 1-3 @ Padres , Aug. 8-10 Cubs , Sept. 5-7 Home vs Giants , Sept. 12-14 @ Brewers Sept. 19 -21 Home Brewers , Sept. 22-24 @ Giants Sept. 26-28 @ Cubs

15 of the 28 games (just over half come in the final month ). From Sept.12th til the end, the Cardinals will play 12 games vs the Brewers (6), Giants, and Cubs.
If this does come down to the final week, the Cardinals will need to play well vs. the Giants and the Cubs on the road.

A look at the standings gives you your answer.

They'll have to improve the team at the deadline.

Not enough bullets in the gun right now to make a playoff spot over 162-game season.

No...they'll be around .500 at the end of the season. This is a good team with the worst manager in the game trying to run it so unless they fire the marmot this team probably is what it is, a .500 club on a good day, a team that can't score on a bad day.

Doubtful. But with a more favorable schedule and the ball starting to fly out more at home, maybe they outpace the on-pace projection and win 91-92. That might do it.

11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 09:44 am They'll have to improve the team at the deadline.

Not enough bullets in the gun right now to make a playoff spot over 162-game season.

Yes, the trade deadline moves will be important AND..
an unknown factor will be .. If the Cardinals call up Wetherholt for the final month , will he have a positive impact for the Cardinal offense ?
We can keep our fingers crossed on that .

ramfandan wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 09:48 am

11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 09:44 am They'll have to improve the team at the deadline.

Not enough bullets in the gun right now to make a playoff spot over 162-game season.

Yes, the trade deadline moves will be important AND..
an unknown factor will be .. If the Cardinals call up Wetherholt for the final month , will he have a positive impact for the Cardinal offense ?
We can keep our fingers crossed on that .

The need is for a RH bat not Wetherholt.

I’d say 90+ will be the magic number. I had them winning the division with 90 wins by 1 game over the Cubs and 3 over the Reds. I could still see that happening.

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 09:50 am I’d say 90+ will be the magic number. I had them winning the division with 90 wins by 1 game over the Cubs and 3 over the Reds. I could still see that happening.

Just curious .. Where do you see the Brewers ? 4th in the division ?

ramfandan wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 09:55 am

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 09:50 am I’d say 90+ will be the magic number. I had them winning the division with 90 wins by 1 game over the Cubs and 3 over the Reds. I could still see that happening.

Just curious .. Where do you see the Brewers ? 4th in the division ?

Yes, I think I had them being 4th place and at 81 wins.

From the predictions thread:

STL 90-72
CHC 89-73
CIN 87-75
MIL 81-81
PIT 78-84

Looking off base on the Pirates, who should sell some players at the deadline.

88-90 wins should put a team in good position for one of the WC's.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 10:13 am 88-90 wins should put a team in good position for one of the WC's.

No win total that begins with an 8 will make into the playoffs in the NL this year.

Oli has had this team overperforming for 2 years now, if he had a complete roster, absolutely they would make the playoffs

After the deadline the top teams that seriously try to improve their rosters will win at a faster rate. The teams that clearly sell will lose at a faster rate. The teams in the middle will be where the teams in the middle always are- stagnant. Point is, the teams holding playoff spots now will increase their winning percentages as time goes on.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 10:16 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 10:13 am 88-90 wins should put a team in good position for one of the WC's.

No win total that begins with an 8 will make into the playoffs in the NL this year.

Disagree'


2024
WC
89 wins Braves
89 wins Mets

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 10:21 am

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 10:16 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Jun 2025 10:13 am 88-90 wins should put a team in good position for one of the WC's.

No win total that begins with an 8 will make into the playoffs in the NL this year.

Disagree'


2024
WC
89 wins Braves
89 wins Mets

I'm aware that this has been done in the past. The National League is stronger that it has been in twenty years. It will take more.