After a disappointing 1-2 weekend in Milwaukee, the Pirates (64-67) visit another neighbor’s nicer house (figuratively speaking), visiting the surging St. Louis Cardinals (73-58).
Whether it’s correlation or causation, the Cards are 26-12 since Mike Shildt took the managerial reins from Mike Matheny.
Matt Carpenter (.273/.385/.579, 34 HR) is an MVP candidate. It looked bad that the Cardinals cut bait on Tommy Pham, but Harrison Bader (.280/.349/.444, 9 HR) has been freed. Cardinals Devil Magic is back, baby!
St. Louis is 19-5 in August, having rattled off an eight-game winning streak. The Cardinals are coming off a 2-1 road series win over the Rockies and have won five of six, leading the National League wild-card race, a half-game ahead of Milwaukee.