CARDINALS VS. BRAVES

Schedule: Game 1, Thursday, at Atlanta, 5:02 p.m. (TBS); Game 2, Friday, at Atlanta, 4:37 p.m. (TBS); Game 3, Sunday, at St. Louis, TBA (TBS); x-Game 4, Monday, at St. Louis, TBA (TBS); x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Atlanta, TBA (TBS). x-if necessary. Season Series: Braves won 4-2.

BIG PICTURE Cardinals: Routed Cubs 9-0 in regular-season finale to win first NL Central title since 2015 . ... Cardinals were a .500 team at All-Star break before midsummer tear . ... St. Louis needed Jack Flaherty to pitch finale, so he won’t be available until Game 2. The good news for Cardinals? He would be on full rest for Game 5 if needed. Flaherty had a 0.91 ERA after All-Star break, third-lowest in major league history.

Braves: Atlanta (97-65) finished with its most wins since 2003 and the NL’s No. 2 seed. ... Team didn’t finish strong. With injuries becoming a growing concern, Braves won only eight of last 19 games . ... Dallas Keuchel lost last three starts. ... Ronald Acuña’s chance for a 40-40 season ended when he was held out due to a left hip injury . ... If Acuña is not healthy and with Ender Inciarte out, Billy Hamilton becomes a key player.

WATCH FOR

Injury Updates. Michael Wacha has a right shoulder strain and appears unlikely to pitch in this series. Even if he makes the St. Louis roster, he would be used in a bullpen role. The bigger question is Kolten Wong, one of the premier defensive second basemen in the game. He’s been hobbled the past couple of weeks with a strained hamstring, leaving Tommy Edman to fill his spot in the lineup. Wong hopes to be ready against Atlanta, but his ability to range deep in the hole could be compromised. Overlooked Baby Brave.

The 21-year-old Acuña has grabbed the headlines while continuing to emerge as one of the game’s top young players. But don’t forget about the 22-year-old Ozzie Albies, who led the NL with 189 hits while again flashing an impressive combination of power and speed.