Friday day games are a rarity in baseball. They are only reserved for make up games and Cubs home games. Today the Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals. Why are we talking about this? Because the Padres are still mathematically alive for the a wild card spot. Just one of the wild card spots however, since the Atlanta Braves already have 86 wins and the Padres' best case scenario would give them 84. Anyway, the Cardinals already have 80 wins so rooting against them is vital to keeping the faith on our Padres' playoff hopes.
The Cubs lost last night, allowing the Reds to clinch a playoff spot. Today they will send Chris Volstad to the mound to try to play spoiler while ending a four-game losing streak for Chicago. Four of his last five starts ended in wins for the Cubs, so hopefully that is the case today as well. The Cubs, of course, have Anthony Rizzo. So, break out your thought-to-be obsolete Rizzo jerseys or shirseys or even a Rizzomania t-shirt and root for the Cubs.
Chris Carpenter returns today to take the mound for the Cardinals. He has missed the entire season so far after going through surgery and rehab to fix a nerve problem that affected the right side of his body. He last pitched in Game 7 of the World Series. He's any easy one to root against. He of the 3-0 record and 1.40 ERA against the Padres in the playoffs. Personally, I never forget watch him start vs. Jake Peavy in game 1 of the 2006 NLDS at Petco and watching the home team suffer another playoff loss to the Cardinals. He is 11-6 all-time against the Cubs.