Emma: Cardinals Feeling Heat From Cubs, Hard-Charging NL Central
By Chris Emma--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Quite remarkably, the Cardinals have this resilient way of finding playoff contention seemingly each season.
Since the turn of the century, St. Louis has missed the playoffs just four times and failed to reach .500 just once in that span. This 2015 season should be trying for the Cardinals, who lost ace Adam Wainwright and cleanup hitter Matt Adams for the year. They had starter Jaime Garcia, left fielder Matt Holliday and center fielder John Jay go down to injuries, too. Oh, and the organization is under FBI investigation for hacking the Astros' database.
In typical Cardinals fashion, this St. Louis team found its way to the best record in baseball.
"We're doing what we're supposed to be doing, day in and day out," Cardinals starter Lance Lynn said.
The Cardinals enter Tuesday's slate of games with a 58-34 mark. However, their spot in the N.L. Central is anything but comfortable. Pittsburgh has pressed the St. Louis lead down to just four games.
And here come the Cubs too, sitting 8.5 games behind the Cardinals for first place and currently occupying a wild-card spot along with the Pirates.
"The Cubs are as advertised," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "They're getting better."
For as impressive as the Cardinals have been, they have two teams hot on their heels. The Pirates have excelled with tremendous team pitching and a team ERA of 2.97, good for second in baseball. Of course, the Cardinals are tops with a 2.66 mark.
Those young Cubs are perhaps ahead of schedule in their long-term plan for playoff contention but still sitting in the middle of the pack by most metrics, meaning a winning streak could be coming.
Three NL Central teams sit in playoff position as of Tuesday, and it stands very possible that all three could hold ground.
"Nobody is going anywhere in this division," Matheny said. "It's going to be tough all the way through. We just have to keep our heads down and keep playing good baseball."
Due to tremendous scouting, player development and a winning culture, the Cardinals have a way of playing that good baseball Matheny desires.
St. Louis ranks third in baseball with a 3.26 FIP and carries a cumulative position player WAR of 13.7, per Fangraphs, including five above a 2.0 mark. In perfect Cardinal form, no eligible position players are below replacement level.
Jason Heyward was traded to the Cardinals to take over right field after the offseason death of promising prospect Oscar Taveras, and Heyward leads the team with a 2.6 WAR and boasts a .776 OPS. He immediately became a fit for St. Louis.
"I'm just trying to be the same guy every day, trying to fit into a really good organization and good club," Heyward said.
A continued hard charge from Pittsburgh could pit St. Louis against the rival Cubs for a one-game wild-card showdown. It's a scenario the Cardinals are trying to remove from consideration.
However, what if the Cubs get red hot? All-Stars Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant have been solid this season, and the pitching from Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta has largely carried the club. If Starlin Castro and Addison Russell find their form, Chicago could rise up the NL Central standings and challenge for the top.
"Just play baseball," Heyward said in response to the competition. "We can't control what everyone else is doing. We got to worry about what we're doing every day. If we're going out winning series, it doesn't really matter what any other team is doing. It's always great to have your destiny in your own hands."
The Cardinals seem to always control their own destiny.
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.
