Taking a Breather

While there are problems with not playing, including the inconvenient fact that the Cubs did play and win, tying the Cardinals for first, St. Louis really needed the day off yesterday.

With the Washington rainout of May rescheduled for their only off day, this team had gone since the All-Star break playing every day.  That’s 17 days in a row, and as much as a couple of moves gave them a little boost, having a day to not have to go through their game routine probably helped even more.  A short series with the Mets, playing tonight and tomorrow afternoon, then another off day should have them ready to go when they face Pittsburgh and head home for Cincinnati and San Diego.

Of course, if career numbers hold up, they might as well take tonight off as well, because Johan Santana is going for the Mets.  The Cardinals were only able to muster two runs (one earned) off of him five weeks ago, but that’s an onslaught compared to his career numbers.  Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina are about the only ones with any success against the Mets lefty, and Molina’s really has small sample size written all over it.  Houston and Milwaukee have both touched Santana for five runs this year, so he’s human, but it’ll be tough to prove that.

St. Louis counters with a pretty good pitcher of their own in Joel Pineiro.  Pineiro may not have the gaudy career numbers against New York that Santana does against the Cards, but he’s held his own.  If he can avoid David Wright, who’s hitting .357 against him, he probably will do OK.  Pineiro has had some great games against the Mets in the past, including a combined line in two starts against them this year of 17 innings, 1.06 ERA, .151 BAA, and a 2-0 record.  He makes them put it in play, though, with three walks and a strikeout in those 17 innings.

The NL Central looks to be between the Cards and the Cubs.  Milwaukee and Houston are still four back and within striking distance, but right now it looks like the rivalry will win out.  The Cardinals have a little easier schedule and more off days, plus exactly half of their 54 games remaining at home, so they are lined up to make a run.

Daniel Shoptaw is the founder of “C70 At The Bat,” where he regularly writes about his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.  You can find more of his work here.