Tuesday’s NL wild-card game will be played at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals clinched home-field for one-game elimination playoff after they defeated the Cleveland Indians 10-7 Saturday.
The Nationals entered Saturday’s game with a magic number of one, needing just a win to secure the home-field. Now, either the Milwaukee Brewers or St. Louis Cardinals will travel to DC.
Both the Brewers and Cardinals are still in contention for the NL Central Division title. The Cardinals currently have a one-game lead over the Brewers. Whichever team does not win the division will be the second NL wild-card and will face the Nationals.
Washington (92-69) has won seven consecutive games, and nine of their last 10. Max Scherzer will take the mound to start the game for the Nationals.
Nationals Park has been the site of elimination games before. Tuesday will be its fourth in the last eight years. The previous three have been in the NLDS. Washington has never advanced past the NLDS, so that tells how well or not history has not been on their side.
Nonetheless, this year has been different than the others. Washington started the season 19-31, but they have been 73-38 since, turning around their season. Now they will host the NL wild-card game.
