There Can Only Be One
162 games to determine the NL Central crown are not enough in 2018.
The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are headed to a one-game playoff on Monday at Wrigley Field for the NL Central division title after both teams won on Sunday.
The Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 win at Wrigley Field on Sunday in a game in which they trailed 2-0 after the first inning.
The Cubs would break through in the third inning with four runs highlighted by utility man Ben Zobrist, who tripled to drive in a run and scored on a wild pitch.
Chicago would continue its strong roll by adding two more runs in the fifth courtesy of a two-run homer by catcher Wilson Contreras before adding runs late as the Cubs bullpen put together a strong effort in relief of Mike Montgomery.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo would finish the game 4-for-4 with a RBI while scoring three of Chicago’s 10 runs.
Meanwhile the Milwaukee Brewers stayed red-hot as they won their seventh consecutive game on Sunday at Miller Park with a 11-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Gio Gonzalez gave the Milwaukee Brewers five innings of shutout ball in a strong effort at Miller Park.
Milwaukee would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before blowing the game open in the sixth and seventh innings with six runs that ballooned their lead to 10-0.
First baseman Jesus Aguilar led the way with a 2-for-5, 3 RBI day for the Milwaukee Brewers as he blasted his 35th home run of the season in the fourth inning.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who faded some in the month of August in their quest for the NL Central, have gone 23-8 over their last 31 games.
Their NL Central counter parts have done the complete opposite, stumbling over the final weeks of the season to a 15-17 mark that allowed Milwaukee back into contention for the NL Central.
Now after 162 games and tied with identical 95-67 marks, only one team is walking away with a division title and home field throughout the NL playoffs.
The loser will host the NL Wildcard game on Tuesday vs the loser of Monday’s NL West title game between the Los Angeles Dodgers or Colorado Rockies.
The winner of Monday’s NL Central title game will await the winner of the NL Wildcard game.
Who do you think will win Monday’s NL Central title game? Leave your comments below!