:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7911482/20120716_ajl_sh5_257.jpg)
The last time we checked in on the Cardinals, they were in third place in the NL Central at three games over .500, but still within striking distance as they were just two and a half games out of first. Since that point, they have doubled the amount of games in which they're over .500 (now six), but they find themselves seven games back due to the unbeatable streak that the Reds are currently enjoying.
The Cards have Lance Berkman back in the lineup after missing the majority of the season with a knee injury, but other than that, things have been holding steady since about a month ago when they took two out of three from the Rockies in St. Louis. Their offense is still decidedly above-average, the top of their rotation is strong, and the back-end of their bullpen remains more-or-less unhittable. However, the same weaknesses are still there as well; Adam Wainwright still hasn't found his old form, and the middle relief has been decidedly below-average.
Let's face it: the Cardinals have a lot of above-average offensive players. Allen Craig, David Freese, Yadier Molina...the list goes on and on. They even have a couple of great ones in Berkman and Carlos Beltran. And then there's a guy who is elite - a guy who owns, including this year, a streak of seven straight seasons in which he's posted an OPS+ of 137 or better. The man is Matt Holliday.
A superstar-level player who was first ignored because of where he played, then forgotten about because of who he played with, Holliday has taken the city of St. Louis by storm in 2012, which is shaping up to be his best season yet. It didn't start without some adversity; Matty hit just .215/.277/.376 in April before exploding for a .353/.442/.587 line since. In addition to posting the highest OPS+ of his career (153), Holliday is also on pace to set a new personal best in walks. Many things have helped the Cardinals overcome the loss of Albert Pujols, but Holliday is right there at the top of the list.
Despite Wainwright not being at his best, the Cards' rotation remains strong due to the fact that none of their starters walk anybody, and because Lance Lynn and Kyle Lohse have enjoyed as fine of a year as anyone could have imagined. Lohse leads the group with a 2.71 ERA/144 ERA+, while winning ten games and limiting opponents to a team-best 1.5 BB/9. Meanwhile, Lynn boasts a team-high 13 victories and owns a 3.42 ERA/114 ERA+ while striking out more than a batter per inning.
The middle part of the bullpen has been the Cardinals' one overwhelming weakness this season, but it's almost cancelled out by the fact that the back end has been so good. Setup man Mitchell Boggs owns a 1.65 ERA and has only allowed two homers this year, while closer Jason Motte has 23 saves, a 2.60 ERA, and strikes out 9.4 per nine innings while walking just over two.
Expected pitching matchups and more after the jump.
Game 1 - tonight at 6:40 PM MT (ROOT Sports)
Kyle Lohse (10-2, 2.71 ERA) vs. Jeff Francis (3-2, 4.97 ERA)
Game 2 - tomorrow at 6:40 PM MT (ROOT Sports)
Jake Westbrook (9-8, 3.61) vs. Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 4.99)
Game 3 - Thursday at 6:40 PM MT (ROOT Sports)
Lance Lynn (13-4, 3.42) vs. Christian Friedrich (5-8, 6.17)