Arrieta, Cubs top Cards, close to top seed

CHICAGO — One week after clinching the National League Central title, the Cubs are focused on fine-tuning some things in preparation for the postseason. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have to beat their division rival if they hope to secure an NL Wild Card berth, and they were unable to do so on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Jake Arrieta struck out 10 over seven innings in the Cubs’ 5-0 victory over the Cardinals. It was Chicago’s 98th win, the most in a single season since winning 98 in 1945, which was the last time the Cubs played in the World Series. With the loss, the Cardinals fell to one game behind the Mets and Giants in the NL Wild Card standings.

The Cubs can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NL Division Series and home-field advantage in the NL Championship Series if the Nationals lose to the Pirates on Friday night.

Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI double and scored on Ben Zobrist’s single in the four-run first inning to give Arrieta all the support he needed. Cardinals starter Mike Leake was lifted after 3 1/3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDStart me up: Arrieta erased any doubts about his command or velocity. He walked one and scattered five hits in his longest outing since Aug. 23, and he notched double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner continued to stymie his former TCU teammate, …

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