 The Cardinals got as close as 4 games behind the Brewers later in September but Milwaukee played too well to be caught, clinching the Central Division title on September 23.The same was not true of the wild-card leading Atlanta Braves.10 games ahead of the Cardinals on August 24, Atlanta went only 6–7 over its next 13 games before coming to St. Louis on September 9 to play a three-game series that would prove to be critical.