For many years [url=http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-jameson-taillon-jersey]http:/... , the Chicago Cubs had to look up to find their rival St. Louis Cardinals in the standings.Times have changed.Chicago (94-66) has a chance to secure its fourth consecutive National League Central title against the Cardinals during the final weekend of the regular season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs’ magic number is two to clinch the division over the second-place Milwaukee Brewers, who are hosting the Detroit Tigers this weekend.Article continues below ...“Our destiny is in our hands,” Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant told the Chicago Tribune. “If we (pick each other up), we’re going to be in a good spot.”Meanwhile [url=http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey]Brad Hand Jersey[/url] , St. Louis (87-73) is in a much more difficult spot with two games to go.The Cardinals emerged as a legitimate playoff contender after replacing ex-manager Mike Matheny with Mike Shildt, who has led the team to a 40-27 record since taking over just before the All-Star break. But a late-season stumble has pushed St. Louis to the outside looking in when it comes to the wild card.“Clearly, the back is completely against the wall,” Shildt said to reporters after an 8-4 loss in Friday’s series opener.The Cardinals’ task will not get any easier as they go up against Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels on Saturday afternoon.The 34-year-old Hamels is 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA with Chicago and 9-11 with a 3.87 ERA including his time with the Texas Rangers earlier this season. Hamels has allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine of 11 starts with the Cubs.In 13 career starts against the Cardinals [url=http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-chase-headley-jersey]http://ww... , Hamels is 4-4 with a 2.79 ERA. He has struck out 87 batters in 84 innings.St. Louis will send out right-hander Miles Mikolas (17-4, 2.94 ERA), who has taken over the role of ace and earned a selection to the All-Star Game this summer. The 30-year-old is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three outings.Mikolas is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in five games (three starts) against the Cubs during his career. He is the Cardinals’ first pitcher to win 17 or more games in his first season with the club since the late Darryl Kile won 19 games in 2000.Cubs manager Joe Maddon is trying to lead the team to its fourth straight appearance in the NL Championship Series and its second World Series title in the past three years.“It’s a very alert time of the year,” Maddon said. “You’re always on alert. You don’t really let your guard down [url=http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-tyson-ross-jersey]Tyson Ross Jersey[/url] , ever. …“It’s always good to be able to hold a lead. But when you get to this time a year against really good teams like St. Louis and whomever else we’re going to play, you have this heightened state of alert about your mind and your observations and trying to piece things together. I’d rather you get more mentally alert as opposed to trying to do more physically.”The Cubs are 50-29 at home. The Cardinals are 44-35 on the road.St. Louis holds a 9-8 edge in the regular-season series. Both teams have scored 89 runs against one another. The Texas Rangershired Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Chris Woodward as their manager Friday, according toUSA TodaySports' Bob Nightengale.MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed the news.According to the Dodgers'official website, Woodward spent the past three seasons as the team's third-base and infield coach. He previously spent three years with the Seattle Mariners organization [url=http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-allen-craig-jersey]Allen Craig Jersey[/url] , serving as the franchise'sminor league infield coordinator in 2013 before being named the infield coach the following season and the first-base coach in 2015.Woodward does not have any big league managerial experience, but he was New Zealand's skipper for the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifying games in 2016.As he was up forthe New York Yankees' job last year, the former MLB infielder explained why he felt he was a good candidate:MLB.com'sT.R. Sullivanreported Thursday that Woodward was one of 11 known candidates to interview for the Rangers' vacancy. Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi and ex-Mariners skipperDon Wakamatsu also interviewed.Woodward spent parts of 12 seasons in the majors, playing for the Toronto Blue Jays [url=http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-tony-gwynn-jersey]http://www.p... , the New York Mets, the Atlanta Braves, Seattle and the Boston Red Sox.