CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago Cubs are getting closer to the NL Central Championship and are hoping for another round of the playoffs.

It would certainly help if Kyle Hendricks continues to shoot like that. They will also take some big homers from Kris Bryant.

Hendricks started eight heats in another good start, Bryant got connected and the Cubs moved closer to the division title, while facing another St. Louis playoff victory.

"That's what you're looking for," Hendricks said. "These are the games you want to play, games that make sense like this, and that's why we play the game, luckily we have a lot."

The Cubs entered the final weekend of the regular season with a fourth straight trip to the playoffs and their third-straight title back-to-back. They started the day with a lead of one game on Milwaukee, while the Brewers were playing in Detroit on Friday night.

St. Louis tied a high of the season with his fourth consecutive loss after being swept by Milwaukee. The Cardinals followed Los Angeles with a game for the second wild card, the Dodgers going to San Francisco.

"It's clear that the back is completely against the wall," said manager Mike Shildt.

Hendricks (14-11) allowed two runs and seven hits. The right-hander is 1.5-1 with an average of 1.52 in his last seven outings and has 199 career innings.

"He started with his best stuff since I know him," said Joe Maddon, Cubs manager. "There are not a lot of withdrawals, not a lot of swing-and-miss, but the speed at the fastball, it's back to weaker contact in general." He looks strong. I just see a stronger version of Kyle. "

Bryant was 3-0 with a long solo race against Adam Wainwright in the fourth.

That gave the MVP NL 2016 only two home runs in 27 games and 13 overall in a season of injury. Bryant missed the previous two games with a left wrist injury after being hit by a throw and was on the disabled list twice this year due to inflammation of the left shoulder.

Daniel Murphy had two hits, two points and a run-up. He scored and scored in two races, doubled and came back in fifth and added a stroke of sacrifice to seventh.

Anthony Rizzo had a RBI single and a sacrifice robbery.

Albert Almora scored twice with a single against Dominic Leone to take eighth at three points, 8-2, and the Cubs won their third straight game after losing four of their last six games.

"We've been here before," said Bryant, referring to three consecutive appearances in the NLCS and a World Series championship in 2016 that ended a drought dating back to 1908. "We've been under pressure. the. "

Wainwright (2-4) is now 11-3 at Wrigley Field. He lasted five innings, allowing four runs and five hits, which could be his last start for the Cardinals. Although he did not appear to be a ready-to-go player, the triple All-Star has a contract that is about to expire and was on the disabled list three times this season due to elbow injuries and hamstrings.

"If you had asked me this question about two months ago, I would have already checked on you," Wainwright said. "But the way I feel right now, if it's my last start, it would be hard to leave knowing what I'm feeling right now."

TRAINER ROOM

Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said he was not sure the reliever Pedro Strop (stretched by the hamstrings) will launch this weekend. The right-hand man still feels a certain discomfort during the landing that throws the mound. Strop has been unavailable since September 13, when he was injured while running in Washington. … The Cubs activated C Bobby Wilson, which was acquired on August 30 from Minnesota on Friday. The Twins placed him on the wounded list for 10 days on August 24 due to a sprained ankle right.

FOLLOWING

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (17-4, 2.94 ERA) hopes to win his fifth consecutive start, after holding San Francisco twice and two hits in seven innings on Sunday.

Cubs: LHP Cole Hamels (4-2, 2.47) tries to get rid of his consecutive losses after sinking 4-0 in his first nine starts for Chicago after an exchange with Texas. He slammed Monday against Pittsburgh, but was defeated by Jameson Taillon.

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