Cardinals 2, Cubs 1: Yikes

Let’s put it this way.

Since 2008, teams whose starting pitchers who have had as good an outing as Cole Hamels did Saturday — seven innings, three hits, two runs, eight strikeouts — went 16-11. That’s pretty good.

But in that same time frame, teams whose starting pitchers had an outing as good as Miles Mikolas had Saturday — eight innings, five hits, one run, six strikeouts — went 21-6.

And that’s really the entire difference in the Cubs’ 2-1 loss to the Cardinals Saturday afternoon. Hamels was really good. Mikolas was just a little bit better.

I could end this recap right here, since you know what’s at stake, and go on and describe what’s to come tonight and Sunday.

But I owe you some…