Despite a late season charge by the Chicago Gray Stockings, the Pittsburgh Polar Bears have once again won the NL East, and a bye in the NL Wild Card Round. This is the defending champs eight straight divisional win, although this season was the closest race with divisional foe Chicago in many seasons. As usual, starting pitching was the key for Pittsburgh. The team has two Cy Young candidates, including the favorite to win the NL award this season, Ramon Yamamoto. The other rivalry budding between Chicago and Pittsburgh is taking place in the NL MVP race. The two top candidates are Chicago's 1B Russ Charleston and Pittsburgh's LF Rafael Cueto, both of whom are having career seasons. Chicago has made it clear, now that the division is decided, that they will rest many of their starters for the last games of the season by calling up a number of players from their AAA squad. Pittsburgh is also likely to rest some players once they lock up the top seed in the NL and home field advantage for their NL postseason run. While Pittsburgh is enjoying their 1st round bye, Chicago will be squaring off against NL rival Los Angeles in the Wild Card Round.