Home Field Advantage on the line for the St. Louis Cardinals

With Game 162 of the season, home field advantage during the playoffs are on the line for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Aug 7, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jake Westbrook (center) is removed from the game by manager Mike Matheny (22) during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium. Image Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals are guaranteed of hosting one of the two National League Division Series. It’s just a question of what seeding they get. As I write this, the Atlanta Braves are leading the Philadelphia Phillies early in the game and the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs have yet to start the game.

In order to clinch the best record in the National League and the chance to play the winner of the National League Wild Card game, the Cardinals need to win. A loss today against the Cubs and a Braves win would mean a tie, which Atlanta would own due to the series record this season.

I would honestly feel much better taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cincinnati Reds again rather than playing the Dodgers in the first round.

Against the Reds, the Cards are 11-8 this season. With a .579 winning percentage, the Cards have outscored them 102-77 this season.

Against the Pirates, the Cards own a .474 winning percentage with a 9-10 record. During the 19 games played, the Cards have outscored the Pirates 87-85 despite losing the overall series this season.

As for the Dodgers, only seven games have been played between the two clubs. The Cards own a .429 winning percentage with a 3-4 record. The Dodgers outscored the Cards 30-27 this season.

Jake Westbrook starts this afternoon for the Cardinals and it might be his final game in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform. It is expected that he will not be named to the postseason roster. His contract expires at the end of the season but there is a mutual option for 2014. It is expected that the Cardinals will not be picking up that option.