We’re 12 hours later than usual, so let’s hope the added time gives us added perspective. If nothing else, we saw two extra games today before posting.

Since we last ranked the teams, three more have left us, including our reigning No. 1. A little sad to see stories like the A’s, Rays and Pirates end, but we’re moving on. Exciting LCS baseball has helped.

Once again our cap-arranging computer is acting up, so we’ll use this NLDS champions logo as a placeholder for our No. 1 team this week. (Not sure it has much of a use otherwise.) Update: Logo gone, caps added.

First 4
1. (3/2/¾/5/5/7/9/11/4/2/2/4/3/1/1/1/1) Cardinals: Our early favorite returns to the top at just the right time. Don’t they always? Eight NLCS appearances in 14 years is incredible enough, but they prefer to focus on their 12th World Series title, and second in 3 years.

2. (2/6/2/1/1/7/10/5/8/9/4/5/5/8/7/7/7/12) Red Sox: So you like 4-hour 1-0 games? Have I got a series for you. This series is as close as it appears. 1-0, 6-5 walkoff, 1-0. Game 7, anyone?

3. (6/5/4/7/8/4/2/3/2/5/5/6/9/7/9/10/11/5) Tigers: Just think if Torii Hunter had caught that David Ortiz grand slam ball instead of the bullpen catcher. But as Hunter pointed out in the ALDS, it’s not over when you’re down 2-1. And their pitching can still bring it home with two more games to work with in the ALCS.

4. (5/9/10/9/4/3/½/1/3/12/13/24/24/23/20/27/25) Dodgers: Owners of the signature NLCS moment so far — Yasiel Puig somehow bat-flipping and posing his way to a stand-up triple — but not much else. They’ll have to match what their rivals did last year — erase a 3-1 NLCS deficit — if they want to survive.

The departed
5. (1/1/½/2/6/5/7/6/2/1/1/3/9/2/3/5/15) A’s: Game 5 elimination games at home have not been an advantage for Oakland. And we thought this year was different.

6. (4/4/7/5/6/8/8/6/4/6/¾/1/¼/6/6/9) Pirates: They’ll be saying, “What if” all offseason, but it should eventually give way to “What a year.” And one to build on.

7. (7/8/9/10/14/10/6/11/9/1/6/7/11/19/18/14/13/17) Rays: The Red Sox had their number.