MLB playoffs set, Cardinals/Phillies starts Friday

The entire Major League Baseball playoff picture came into focus Tuesday night. The matchups were finally set, right before the last day of the regular season.

The postseason, expanded from 10 teams last year to 12 this season, begins Friday with a newly created wild-card round. All four series are best two of three — three days in a row, no breaks, with the higher seed hosting every game.

At Busch Stadium, soon-to-be retired St. Louis stars Yadier Molina and Pujols host Harper and Philadelphia. The Cardinals won the NL Central, but as the No. 3 seed don’t get the benefit of an early bye.

A two-time champion with the Cardinals, the 42-year-old Pujols has looked like a 24-year-old version of himself down the stretch, topping 700 career home runs and passing Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time RBIs list.

A two-time MVP, Harper makes his first playoff appearance since 2017 with Washington. He missed two months in the middle of the season because of a broken thumb but is ready to swing away for the Phillies.

You can listen to each game on AM 1230 The Talker.

Wild Card Game 1
Game Date: Friday, October 7
Pre-Game Show Start:                  12:00pm

Game Open Billboard Start:        12:55pm

First Pitch:                                       1:07pm

Opponent: vs Philadelphia Phillies

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Wild Card Game 2
Game Date: Saturday, October 8
Pre-Game Show Start:                  6:30pm

Game Open Billboard Start:        7:25pm

First Pitch:                                       7:37pm

Opponent: vs Philadelphia Phillies

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Wild Card Game 3   ***If Needed

The Associated Press contributed to this report