Very few so-called experts considered the Cardinals contenders for the National League Central pennant at the start of the season. This was supposed to be the year that the defending World Series champion Cubs ran away with the pennant. Again.
Even most of those who predicted a wild-card berth for the Cardinals expected the Cubs to cruise to the division crown. With young superstars Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo back, the defending World Series champions were considered a dynasty in the making. We were wrong.
Here they are on Sept. 15 with a confident Cardinals team primed to make a major statement during a three-game series at Wrigley Field this weekend.