LEADING OFF: Cards seek sweet 16, Yanks-Red Sox for WC lead

A look at what's happening around the majors today:

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CARDS FLY

Fresh off setting a franchise record with their 15th straight win, Harrison Bader and the Cardinals try to finish off a sweep at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals hold a five-game lead over Philadelphia for the second NL wild-card spot.

St. Louis owns the longest winning streak in the majors since Cleveland took 22 in a row in 2017. The major league record is 26 straight victories by the New York Giants in 1916.

Bader went 4 for 4 with a home run as the Cardinals beat the Cubs 8-5 Saturday. The energetic center fielder also rushed in to take part in a rundown during a double play to help St. Louis break the team mark of 14 consecutive wins set in 1935, a year after Dizzy Dean and the Gas House Gang won the World Series.

The Cardinals date their history to 1892, when they were known as the Browns and joined the National League. They later were called the Perfectos before becoming the Cardinals in the early 20th century.

“My perspective is what time is the game tomorrow?” Bader said. “It’s great, don’t get me wrong. It’s part of history. There’s tremendous talent that’s come through. … But we have bigger things we’re focused on. We have more games to win. We’re going to take this energy as deep as we can.”

WILD NIGHT

Tied atop the American League wild-card standings, the Yankees and Red Sox square off for the final time this regular season when the longtime rivals meet in prime time at Fenway Park.

Jordan Montgomery (6-6, 3.55 ERA) pitches for the Yankees as they try to complete a three-game sweep. The left-hander has allowed no more than one run in eight of his last 10 starts, going 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA. He’ll be opposed by Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 4.97), who...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Cards-seek-sweet-16-Yanks-Red-Sox-16488312.php