Sun Sep 15 15:52:00 UTC 2024: ## Cardinals Face Blue Jays in Crucial Series with Playoffs Hopes Dwindling

**St. Louis, MO** – The St. Louis Cardinals face a crucial series against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend as their playoff hopes continue to fade. The Cardinals, currently 74-74 and seven games out of the final wild-card spot with just 14 games left, are looking for a strong performance to close out the season.

The Cardinals dropped the first two games of the series, falling in 11 innings on Friday and suffering a routing on Saturday. Sunday’s game will feature Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas, who is struggling with the third-worst ERA among qualified starters in baseball. He will face off against Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodríguez, a 27-year-old Cuban in his first MLB season.

Despite their recent struggles, the Cardinals are still hoping for a miracle run to the playoffs. Sports columnists Ben Frederickson and Jeff Gordon have weighed in with their predictions for former Cardinals who are in the postseason hunt. The Cardinals will also be celebrating Roberto Clemente Day on Sunday, honoring the Hall of Famer’s humanitarian legacy.

The Blue Jays, currently 71-78 and last in the AL East, have shown signs of life recently, winning three of their last four games. The Cardinals return home next week for their final homestand, facing off against the Pittsburgh Pirates starting Monday.

The Cardinals are hoping for a strong finish to the season, but with time running out and the playoffs slipping further away, their hopes are fading fast.

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