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MLB news: Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, NL Wild Card

By Kevin Henry |
Sep 1, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) swings at a pitch against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) swings at a pitch against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

It’s the first Sunday of September and time for some MLB news and notes, including tidbits on the Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.

Seattle Mariners news: Ahead in the AL West but for how long?

Mariners fans awoke on Sunday to their team sitting alone in first place in the American League West. The question becomes, however, what will September bring to a three-team race at the top of the division.

Seattle has been red hot since the All-Star break, with that flurry helping push them into the AL West lead. However, the Mariners have anything but an easy road ahead of them this month, currently having the eighth-hardest finishing schedule of any MLB team.

Compare that to Houston with the fourth-easiest schedule of any MLB team and it’s easy to see why Seattle fans have to keep an eye on the defending World Champions. And don’t forget about Texas, with the 13th-hardest schedule remaining. The Rangers, however, control their own fate, playing both Seattle and Houston before the regular season ends.

MLB news: Do Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers or Cincinnati Reds have an edge?

Taking a look at those same strength of schedule numbers, the Cubs (16th-hardest) have a slight disadvantage over the Brewers (24th-hardest) and Reds (25th-hardest) in what is shaping up to be a tight National League Central and Wild Card race.

The Cubs and Reds finish up their series today in Cincinnati, and the Cubs and Brewers finish the season against each other in Milwaukee.

St. Louis Cardinals news: Adam Wainwright’s next start

As Wainwright has already said this season, he has to win number 199 before he can reach the 200-win milestone. The 42-year-old right-hander has not posted a win since June 17, losing his last six outings. However, with a change in his throwing schedule, Wainwright will now get another chance at 199 against the team that drafted him back in 2000 and the one that is the closest to his hometown of Brunswick (about four hours away), the Atlanta Braves.

Wainwright will take the mound on Thursday against a Braves team that has put up history-making offensive numbers this season. While Wainwright has earned the right to stay in the St. Louis rotation (especially when the team will not make the postseason), he faces a tall task in getting that elusive win in Atlanta.

Next. Why the Cubs may have an edge in the NL Wild Card race. dark

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