Cards vs. Cubs analysis:

Cubs have better ace, more potent offense and a better manager.

Cards have a better bullpen, deeper rotation and far more experience in the post-season.

Cubs will be feeling a ton of pressure and may have some difficulty relaxing and swinging the bats freely, like they have the last few months. For the most part, their fate, as the 2nd wild card team, has been sealed for several weeks. It is easy to play well and swing freely under those circumstances. The pressure of 100+ years is going to be very heavy. Although their youth and inexperience could work in their favor. Sometimes being young and dumb is not a bad thing...

Cards are going to have to get the pitching they did all season long. Any letdowns by the starters will be hard to overcome. While they win a lot of 1 and 2 run games, I don't see them having enough offense to come back from 3 and 4+ run deficits. They also need Matheny to have learned from past years' mistakes. He needs to be a better post-season manager.

Cards will win this series but it will take all 5 games...