Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Live updates from NL Wild Card Game

LOS ANGELES — We are live at Dodger Stadium for the National League Wild Card Game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In this article, we will be providing live updates from the stadium, giving you a behind-the-scenes look and feel for what is expected to be a postseason game filled with emotions and storylines.

Here is what we are seeing at the National League Wild Card Game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers

Let’s look at some of the things we will be watching during the game tonight.

Pitching matchup

With Adam Wainwright and Max Scherzer squaring off, our friends at WynnBET have set the over/under for total runs at 7.5. They’re also learning toward a Dodgers win, thanks in part to the 2.5 runs over/under line set for the Cardinals.

The pair of veteran pitchers are among the favorites for the National League Cy Young Award. Will they be able to keep opposing hitters off the bases?

Make your pick now on WynnBET

Repeat?

Major League Baseball hasn’t had a repeat champion since the New York Yankees won three in a row between 1998 and 2000. After winning their first World Series since 1988 during last year’s pandemic-shortened season, can the Dodgers repeat after a full 162-game schedule? The road certainly isn’t easy as they’ll have to not only take out the Cardinals but also overcome the rival Giants (who dethroned them as National League West champions) before even reaching the NLCS.

Hot birds

The St. Louis Cardinals went on a 17-game winning streak to take control of the second Wild Card spot and earn a date with the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, then let their foot off the gas once they had clinched the postseason, dropping three of their final five games. Can the Cardinals turn back up the heat in a stadium where they lost two of three games earlier this season?

Will Pujols make an impact?

Albert Pujols suited up for the Cardinals for 11 years. Now he faces them in a winner-take-all showdown. Without the injured Max Muncy in the lineup, will Pujols start at first base and make a memory against his former club?

Note: Pujols is not in the starting lineup. View the starting lineups here.

We will be posting live updates from Dodger Stadium below throughout the game. All times listed will be on Pacific time. Please hit refresh regularly to ensure you are seeing the latest content.

3:21 p.m. — St. Louis is taking batting practice now. This was the scene earlier as Albert Pujols stepped into the cage.

3:25 p.m. — It’s 73 degrees at Dodger Stadium right now with sunset slated for 6:29 local time. Will be in the mid-60s for most of the game after that, but a beautiful night for baseball in Southern California.

3:29 p.m. — Looking through the game notes for the Dodgers and Cardinals (big thanks to the respective PR teams for the clubs for the great information). Here is one tidbit that stood out: This will be the first time in franchise history that the Dodgers will host and play in a Wild Card Game.

3:34 p.m. — The Dodgers and Cardinals met seven times this season. Los Angeles won the season series, 4-3, including winning two of three at Dodger Stadium from May 31-June 2.

3:38 p.m. — St. Louis is entering the postseason as a Wild Card for the fifth time (also 2020, 2012, 2011, and 2001). St. Louis has played a total of four games under the Wild Card round format, going 2-2 (1-0 in 2012 and 1-2 in 2020).

3:45 p.m. — Home field is big for L.A. The Dodgers set a franchise record for home success this year, finishing the regular season with six straight wins at home and adding to their home winning streak of 15. The Dodgers finished the home campaign with 58 wins, leading MLB in winning percentage (.712).

3:50 p.m. — Will history repeat itself? The Cardinals have defeated the reigning World Series Champion twice previously in postseason play. St. Louis took out the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0 in the 2002 Division Series and the Philadelphia Athletics 4-3 in the 1931 World Series.

3:55 p.m. — St. Louis has won nine of its 15 postseason series matchups against NL West clubs (4-1 vs. LAD, 3-1 vs. SD, 1-1 vs. ARI, 1-3 vs. SF).

4 p.m. — Plenty of Cardinal red flowing into Dodger Stadium. Visiting team will be well represented tonight.

4:10 p.m. — L.A. will be confident if it gets into a bullpen game tonight. L.A. relievers posted a 3.16 ERA, finishing second in MLB behind San Francisco (2.99).

4:15 p.m. — For the second consecutive season, St. Louis led the National League in Defensive Runs Saved (82), trailing only the Texas Rangers (88) in all of MLB.

4:18 p.m. — Shadows are starting to creep across the infield here at Dodger Stadium. It’s shady on the mound and at short, third, and behind the plate. First and second base are still in the sun … for now.

4:25 p.m. — How strong was St. Louis in the second half? The Cardinals were a season-low four games under .500 (37-41) on June 27, but were a season-best 20 games over .500 (90-70) on October 1.

4:30 p.m. — Don’t forget that Dodger shortstop Corey Seager enters the postseason as the reigning NLCS and World Series MVP.

4:32 p.m. — Max Scherzer has made his way onto the field and Dodger fans are showing him some love.

4:35 p.m. — And now Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina pops out of the St. Louis dugout and is greeted with plenty of “Yadi” chants.

4:36 p.m. — Entire infield now in shadows

4:45 p.m. — Getting close to game time. Pregame activities on the field starting to happen. First pitch thrown and American flag on the field in preparation for national anthem.

4:46 p.m. — Cardinals and Dodgers lining up along respective baselines for introductions.

4:48 p.m. — Cardinals players met with boos. Home crowd trying to kick into high gear.

4:50 p.m. — Kenley Jansen with the big round of applause in pregame introductions, only to be topped when they introduce Albert Pujols. Clayton Kershaw, however, gets an ever bigger one than that.

4:53 p.m. — Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado gets a mixed reaction from the crowd, especially those Dodger fans who still remember him visiting often with the Rockies.

4:55 p.m. — Dodger introductions happening but seats nowhere near full. Early time spot and local traffic not helping there.

5 p.m. — National anthem ends with an emphatic “Let’s go Dodgers!” Crowd follows by chanting the same.

5:01 p.m. — Get ready for plenty of TV shots of blue rally towels tonight.

5:04 p.m. — Talking about the “Beat L.A.” chant on the video boards. Changing it to #RepeatLA.

5:05 p.m. — And here comes home plate umpire Joe West and his crew.

5:09 p.m. — Scherzer on the mound. Edman in the box. Here we go. 72 degrees at first pitch.

5:11 p.m. — That Edman foul went a lot way, landing part of the way up in the third deck down the first base line.

5:12 p.m. — Edman was hitting .189 with two strikes but poked the ball into right field for a leadoff single.

5:15 p.m. — Cardinals aggressive early with Edman stealing second.

5:16 p.m. — Goldschmidt walk and the Cardinals have early traffic.

5:17 p.m. — What a big catch from Betts right there to get the first out of the inning.

5:19 p.m. — Officially a wild pitch and Edman races home from third, Cardinals up 1-0.

5:22 p.m. — Dodgers sloppy in the top of the first but will get out of it with just one run scored.

5:24 p.m. — Had to double check this, but Nolan Arenado’s slash line against the Dodgers this season is .095/.091/.143 with a .234 OPS. Wow.

5:26 p.m. — Officially ruled a base hit for Mookie Betts. Dodgers have the leadoff batter on.

5:30 p.m. — Sosa isn’t looking the most confident at shortstop early on.

5:32 p.m. — Wainwright … wow. After one inning, Cardinals lead 1-0.

5:40 p.m. — Crowd riding Joe West on every borderline call.

5:41 p.m. — Bader with the walk. Scherzer hasn’t been crisp early.

5:44 p.m. — Wainwright making Scherzer work here.

5:47 p.m. — Dodger fans thought there was an out on that Edman grounder. Ruled a foul. Scherzer gets him to fly out next pitch, however, to end the inning. Heading to bottom of 2, Cards up 1-0.

5:48 p.m. — World War II veteran being honored in between innings. Amazing. Thank you for your service, sir.

5:54 p.m. — Nolan Arenado talked about his defensive colleagues in yesterday’s press conference. Tommy Edman flashed the leather there.

5:58 p.m. — A loud, long fly ball but nothing else as the Dodgers come up empty in the bottom of the second. 1-0, St. Louis.

6:05 p.m. — Arenado back at the plate with Goldschmidt at first after the single. Flew out in the first and grounds into a force here in the third. Still struggling against Dodger pitching.

6:07 p.m. — Wow, that was a pretty 2-1 breaking pitch to Carlson. Got the crowd fired up.

6:09 p.m. — Scherzer is dodging trouble and keeping the Dodgers in it until their offense starts flowing against Wainwright. Cardinals lead 1-0, heading into bottom of the third.

6:15 p.m. — Wainwright drawing the ire of the crowd with that up and in to Scherzer.

6:16 p.m. — Crowd is absolutely fired up after that, much louder than before.

6:22 p.m. — Walk loads the bases and Dodger Stadium is rocking as Trea Turner steps into the box.

6:25 p.m. — Feels like Dodgers could break it open here. Momentum has changed completely.

6:26 p.m. — WOW! Wainwright gets the inning-ending double play on the speedy Turner and the Dodgers still trail 1-0.

6:31 p.m. — Yadier Molina spikes his bat into the ground after the shift was played perfectly for him and he grounds out to second.

6:36 p.m. — Bader is hit by pitch, so Wainwright steps in. Will Scherzer go up and in to him?

6:38 p.m. — Nope, strikes him out to end the top of the fourth.

6:44 p.m. — Justin Turner just ignited this crowd with one swing of the bat. We’re tied at 1 after his solo shot to deep left.

6:47 p.m. — That was Justin Turner’s 13th career postseason homer, the most in Dodgers history.

6:48 p.m. — Wainwright with back-to-back Ks after the homer to quiet the crowd a little.

6:53 p.m. — Sign of the times: It’s the mask cam.

6:56 p.m. — Tommy Edman has been the master of the bloop single tonight.

7 p.m. — A walk to Goldschmidt gives the Cardinals two runners on with no outs. Joe Kelly is warming up.

7:04 p.m. — Scherzer with a K against his last batter of the night. Big hand from the L.A. faithful. Now going to be Joe Kelly vs. Arenado.

7:11 p.m. — Kelly comes in and gets the Arenado force out. Now two outs in the inning but runners still at first and second.

7:15 p.m. — Kelly with a heck of a relief appearance in that inning and the Dodgers faithful erupt in cheers after the K to end the top of the fifth.

7:23 p.m. — Wainwright effective in the fifth. Each team with one run and three hits.

7:27 p.m. — L.A. bullpen has been one of the best in MLB this season. Showing it so far.

7:30 p.m. — Bader gets plunked again but Wainwright grounds out to end the frame.

7:38 p.m. — Not even Arenado has enough defensive wizardry to get that ball and Turner at first.

7:45 p.m. — Officially a bullpen game as Garcia comes in for the Cardinals. So far, keeping Seager stuck at first base and out of scoring position.

7:48 p.m. — That is, of course, until Will Smith works a walk and A.J. Pollock strides to the plate with two outs.

7:52 p.m. — Pollock’s dribbler in front of the plate is handled and we’re moving to the seventh tied at 1. Treinen now in the game at pitcher and Chris Taylor in in left field.

8 p.m. — Wicked slider from Treinen there to get the count to 2-1.

8:06 p.m. — Arenado’s struggles against the Dodgers continue. Pops out to end the seventh. We head to the stretch, tied at 1.

8:13 p.m. — Cool note here. Just saw this man in the press box, still wearing his rings. A very cool thing.

8:16 p.m. — Dodgers had Bellinger at second, but Betts flies out and the inning is over. Heading to the 8th, still 1-1.

8:21 p.m. — Beautiful piece of hitting from Carlson right there. The Cards have the leadoff man on in the 8th.

8:28 p.m. — And that’s why Chris Taylor is in the game in left field.

8:35 p.m. — Oh the crowd was ready for strike 3 and Joe West wasn’t having any part of it.

8:36 p.m. — Knebel comes back to fan Bader however and the inning ends … but the drama increases. Bottom of the 8th, 1-1.

8:45 p.m. — Trea Turner may play a bigger role in the outcome of this game than Max Scherzer.

8:50 p.m. — And, like Chris Taylor, DeJong comes in at shortstop and makes a great defensive play. It’s the top of the 9th and Kenley Jansen is coming into a 1-1 game.

8:57 p.m. — Edman has three of the five hits for St. Louis tonight.

9:11 p.m. — Albert Pujols walks to the plate and Dodger Stadium gets crazy loud. However, a deep fly to center is all they see from him and there’s one out in the bottom of the 9th.

9:28 p.m. — Chris Taylor has sent the Dodger faithful into a euphoric state and his team into the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants. L.A. wins, 3-1.

9:31 p.m. — Thanks for following along with us tonight! Good night from Los Angeles.