The Reds and Cardinals have a distinct advantage over the teams batting for playoff spots in both the N.L. East and the N.L. West in that they get to play a bunch of games against the Pirates, Astros, Cubs and Brewers. 

As ESPN.com’s Buster Olney pointed out on Monday, the Reds have the easiest second-half schedule of any team currently in the playoff race, in either league.

Lance McAlister took it a step further on his blog on 700WLW.com as he broke down the difference between just Cincinnati and St. Louis after the All-Star break:

Home/Road
Reds: 72 games...35 home/37 road
Cards: 74 games....39 home/35 road

Games vs +.500 teams
Reds: 25 games vs +.500 teams: 9 home/16 road
Cards: 32 games vs +.500 teams: 22 home/10 road

Games vs -.500 teams
Reds: 47 games vs -.500 teams: 26 home/21 road
Cards: 42 games vs -.500 teams: 17 home/25 road

Last 22 games
Games vs +.500: Reds 3, Cards 10
Games vs -.500: Reds 19, Cards 12

Opponents in last 22 games
Reds: (3) Pitt, (4) Arizona, (6) Houston, (6) Milwaukee, (3) San Diego
Cards: (2) Atlanta, (6) Chicago, (4) San Diego, (6) Pittsburgh, (4) Colorado

MLB cincinnati reds, st.louis cardinals, nl central