Can the Cards catch up?

When the St. Louis Cardinals rallied Tuesday night for a 4-3 over the Chicago Cubs, they moved within 3 1/2 games of the playoffs. Can they make it?

Let's look at what they've got left: 2 more vs. Cubs; 3 at Pirates; 3 at Reds; 3 at Cubs; 4 vs. D-backs; 3 vs. Reds.

Of those teams, the Cards have winning records against the Pirates and Reds. If they can win those series (go 8-1 in those games) then split the remaining games with the Cubs and D-backs, the Cards would finish 90-72. Can they win 12 of their final 18 games? Would that even be enough to make the playoffs? The Brewers would have to go 7-10 and the Phillies would have to finish up 10-7 or worse for St. Louis to grab the Wild Card.

Here's what the Brewers have left: 4 at Phillies; 3 at Cubs; 3 at Reds; 3 vs. Pirates and 3 vs. Cubs.

Here's what the Phillies have left: 4 vs. Brewers; 3 at Braves; 3 at Marlins; 3 vs. Braves; 3 vs. Nationals.

I'd be more worried about the Phillies and the Astros, who are 34-16 since the All-Star break and have won 9 of their last 10.

Houston may have the easiest schedule left: 3 vs. Pirates; 3 vs. Cubs; 3 at Marlins; 3 at Pirates; 3 vs. Reds; 3 vs. Braves.

By the way, the rest of the Cubs' games are all against teams in the playoff race: 2 more at St. Louis; 3 at Houston; 3 vs. Brewers; 3 vs. Cards; 4 at Mets (remember the black cat in '69?) and 3 at Brewers.

Could the Cubs tank the Central that seemed like a lock at the start of September?

Lets say Tuesday's win boosts the Cards to a sweep of the Cubs, they split with the D-Backs and go 8-1 against the Reds and Pirates. That's a 93-69 record for St. Louis, meaning the Cubs would have to win eight times in the other 13 games to take the Central or the Brewers would have to win 12 of their last 18. That means the Cardinals would have to win 13 of their final 18 with nine on the road. But remember, with every Cardinals win and loss by the Cubs, Brewers and Phillies, the heat turns up a notch.

Last year did anybody think the Rockies could finish strong or the Mets would crumble as bad as they did? That's the fun part of September. It's been a long summer, a long season, and anything can happen.