vs.         

   Record: 105-57 (7-1 Playoffs)                                     Record: 92-70 (7-4 Playoffs)

Game 6: Chicago 3 - St. Louis 2 (Chicago wins series 4-2)

WP: Aaron Cook

LP: Brandon Webb

SV: Bobby Jenks

Key Play: In a pitcher's duel between the Cardinals Brandon Webb and White Sox Aaron Cook, runs were hard to come by.  However, after an Engel Beltre steal of 2nd in the bottom of the 4th inning, former Cardinal C Yadier Molina gets a base hit to drive in what would prove to be the winning and championship clinching run. 

        vs.           

 Record: 92-70                                                                          Record: 90-72

The St. Louis Cardinals took control of the NL Central in the second half of the season and ride that momentum into the playoffs.  The Cardinals took off with the acquisition of SP Brandon Webb, who went 13-3 after the trade.  The pitching staff overall finished in the middle of the pack, but this series will see former National SP John Lannan faceoff against his old team.  The strength of the Cardinals staff is their bullpen, led by NL saves leader Rafael Soriano.  The Cardinals do boast a powerful and balanced offense, led by NL batting champ 1B Albert Pujols.  Along with Pujols, the Cardinals feature a young nucleus of players such as: CF Colby Rasmus, 3B Brett Wallace, SS Gordon Beckahm and C Blake Murphy.  If the young kids perform as well in the postseason as they have during the regular season, the Cardinals could be a team to watch this postseason.

The Washington Nationals are in the playoffs, a sentence that probably surprises several observers around the league.  However, there is nothing surprising about the Nationals, who have been one of the most consistent teams all season long.  Led by rookie ace SP Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals pitching is much improved and Strasburg give the team an ability to win anytime he pitches.  The Nationals offense has been solid as well, with 3B Ryan Zimmerman and OF Adam Dunn plenty of power and the rest of the lineup contains the ability to score in bunches.  The offense isn't as adept at hitting for average though, so the team must continue to hit for power if they hope to advance to the Championship Series, a task that is made tougher by an injury to Zimmerman which will most likely keep him out for the entire series.