St. Louis Cardinals Have Great Start (2016 schedule: MLB 13) - chibulls84's Dynasty

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St. Louis Cardinals Have Great Start (2016 schedule: MLB 13)

Posted on June 2, 2015 at 09:39 PM.

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The St. Louis Cardinals began the 2016 season on a high note winning 18 of their first 23 games to start the season. However, the month of April ended on an atrocious note after taking a beating to Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants, 12-2. Michael Wacha, who came into the game undefeated, got shellacked for 7 runs (4 earned) in just 2 and two-third innings. Tyler Lyons fared no better against the Giants going just 2 and one-third innings and giving 5 earned runs. But despite the loss, the Cardinals is on top of the Central Division by 4 games over the Chicago Cubs, who themselves have a surprising start at 15-10.

The club's offense has been led by left fielder Melvin Castro. Now given the chance to start (over aging left fielder Matt Holliday), he has proven well enough to spark the team with his home run power and run-driving ability. He leads the club with 16 RBIs and is tied for the team lead in home runs with 4. Aaron Adams, who started this season very slowly has picked up the slack on offense. Adams is hitting .333 with 4 home runs and 6 RBIs in his last 10 games and has gotten his average from below .200 to above .240. However, the Cards have not recent great contributions from their first baseman Matt Adams and shortstop Elvis Andrus. Andrus has only hit .162 in his last 10 games and Adams is batting .244. The club sits 23rd in runs scored after a month, far from the pace they had last season when they averaged close to 5 runs a game.

Even after the trade of Shelby Miller for David Price, the pitching has been terrific for the most part with ace Adam Wainwright leading the majors with 5 wins. Price has done well with the strikeout pitch but has not seen much success in the win column and also has a high E.R.A. The bullpen has been led by Jonathan Papelbon's 7 saves and newcomer Andrew Miller has yet to yield an earned run so far this season. The same can also be said for second set-up man Josh Collmenter.

It's early in the season but you can be sure that the Cardinals are here to compete and to forget the collapse in last year's NLCS against Atlanta and make that push towards another world championship.

St. Louis Cardinals April 2016 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Apr 4	vs San Diego Padres	Won, 3-1
Apr 5	vs San Diego Padres	Won, 6-4
Apr 6	vs San Diego Padres	Won, 6-0
Apr 8	vs Los Angeles Dodgers	Lost, 3-2
Apr 9	vs Los Angeles Dodgers	Lost, 4-3
Apr 10	vs Los Angeles Dodgers	Won, 3-0
Apr 11	at Milwaukee Brewers	Won, 4-1
Apr 12	at Milwaukee Brewers	Won, 5-4
Apr 13	at Milwaukee Brewers	Won, 4-3
Apr 15	at Cincinnati Reds	Won, 2-1
Apr 16	at Cincinnati Reds	Won, 5-4
Apr 17	at Cincinnati Reds	Lost, 8-1
Apr 19	vs Colorado Rockies	Won, 10-4
Apr 20	vs Colorado Rockies	Won, 6-5
Apr 21	vs Colorado Rockies	Won, 2-1
Apr 22	vs Milwaukee Brewers	Won, 4-2
Apr 23	vs Milwaukee Brewers	Won, 6-5
Apr 24	vs Milwaukee Brewers	Won, 2-1
Apr 25	at Arizona Diamondbacks	Won, 6-1
Apr 26	at Arizona Diamondbacks	Lost, 4-3
Apr 27	at Arizona Diamondbacks	Won, 6-2
Apr 29	at San Francisco Giants	Won, 5-4
Apr 30	at San Francisco Giants	Lost, 12-2