The Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants on Monday night in Busch Stadium to push to 34 games over .500 and 45-18 at home.
With 7 games against the sub .500 Padres and Diamondbacks on the schedule after 2 more with the Giants, the Cardinals could ensure a winning season by getting to 82 wins by early next week.
I’m certain that Nationals or Angels fans would love to read those previous two paragraphs about their teams. In The Nation, though, consternation is high.
But by being so far ahead of the pack for most of the season, the Cardinals should be able to endure the storm they’re headed into.
First the updates…
Randal –
Besides a low-grade muscle strain, Grichuk, 24, said he was told he had a low-grade sprained ligament in the elbow, although general manager John Mozeliak said, “Our biggest concern right now is the muscle strain. The overall ligament probably looks like a lot of pitcher and position player elbows, so we’re not overly concerned with that. But short-term, you’ve got to let the muscle heal. Otherwise, I do think you expose the ligament to possible greater risk.” But Mozeliak, asked if he thought all would be back by mid-September, answered, “I think that’s a fair estimation.”
Heyward –
Jason Heyward made his first start of the season in center field for the St. Louis Cardinals but was taken out after two innings due to left hamstring tightness.
We’ll know more about Heyward on Tuesday afternoon. Grichuk looks to be gone for 4 weeks or so, about the time frame when Matt Holliday and Matt Adams are scheduled to try and make it back.
Let’s talk turkey here – the Cardinals are in deep offensive trouble.
1) Randal Grichuk (15), Matt Holliday (4), Matt Adams (4) and Jon Jay (1) have combined for 24 of the 98 Cardinals team home runs or about 24% of the team total. Throw in Jason Heyward and those numbers go up to 35/98 for 36%.
2) Kolten Wong is in a deep slump. He’s 9/57 (.157) in August with all 9 hits being singles. This is coming off a July where Wong hit .240 with just 2 HRs and a .320 slugging percentage.
3) The Cardinals acquired ‘slugger’ Brandon Moss at the trading deadline and so far his slugging percentage is .194 with 0 HRs and 1 extra base hit (2B).
4) There is no help in the minors that can immediately be called on like Oscar Taveras or Randal Grichuk previously have been. Everyone that could have had a shot in 2015 to contribute has had a chance. Some (like Piscotty) have done well. Most (Scruggs, Pham, Johnson) have not.
Oh, and there’s this…
The @Cardinals are the monsters of a stacked division, and they're coming for you in October http://t.co/j9i1zrrJw4 pic.twitter.com/PUEGU0bDee
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 18, 2015
When we talk about the Cardinals grinding out wins, last night might be the perfect example. Pretty much 2 good hits, some great luck and a killer pitching performance.
It’s not going to be easy the next 4 weeks. But if the Cardinals can somehow manage to stay above water long enough to return 2 of the 4 missing bats from the lineup, this team still can be a beast in October.
Photo: FOX
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