By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today

After 2,362 games against one another, the iconic rivalry is about to reach new heights. For the first time in the history of the two franchises, the St. Louis Cardinals are set to meet the Chicago Cubs in postseason play.

Cubs’ ace Jake Arrieta, who posted a minuscule 0.37 ERA in the final two months of the season, twirled a complete game shutout, and rookie Kyle Schwarber knocked in three runs as the Northsiders blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in Wednesday night’s NL Wild Card Game at PNC Park.

The team with the second-best record in all of baseball, the Pirates, was sent home for the year after failing to stratch out even one run in the contest. Meanwhile, a young Cubs team filled with rising stars has reached the postseason — and 90-plus regular season wins — for the first time since 2008.

With the victory, the Cubs have punched their ticket to the best-of-five National League Division Series against the redbirds, which begins just after 5:30 pm CT at Busch Stadium on Friday night.

36-year-old postseason veteran John Lackey (13-10, 2.77 ERA), who Mike Matheny announced as his Game 1 starter on Tuesday, will take the mound in the series opener against his former Boston teammate Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34 ERA).

[Related: Lackey gets the call for NLDS Game 1 at Busch against Cubs]

MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch examines how the two teams fared against one another during the regular season:

“The Cardinals went 11-8 against the Cubs this year, but the Cards dropped six of their last nine meetings and lost both September series.”

“Overall, the Cardinals outscored the Cubs, 84-79, this season while hitting .246 with 10 homers and 53 extra-base hits. In turn, St. Louis’ pitching staff posted a 3.93 ERA against Chicago’s offense, which hit it at a .253 clip.”

NLDS Schedule:

Game	Date	Time	Matchup	Broadcast
Gm 1	Friday 10/9	5:30 pm CT	CHC @ STL	TBS, KMOX (CRN)
Gm 2	Saturday 10/10	4:30 pm CT	CHC @ STL	TBS, KMOX (CRN)
Gm 3	Monday 10/12	TBA	STL @ CHC	TBS, KMOX (CRN)
* Gm 4	Tuesday 10/13	TBA	STL @ CHC	TBS, KMOX (CRN)
* Gm 5	Thursday 10/15	TBA	CHC @ STL	TBS, KMOX (CRN)

*if necessary

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