Cardinals Got Hot at The Right Time

After the St. Louis Cardinals beat up the New York Mets, they got hotter. For the teams chasing them in the Wild Card race, good luck to you. I think the only team that might be able to do that is the Cincinnati Reds. But their home games are getting thin, so that’s not a lock.

Rookie sensation, Dylan Carlson smacked two home runs in their latest win to give themselves a one-game lead over the Reds and 1.5 over the Padres. Carlson’s 15 home runs and 57 RBI have been a boost to the club. He’s a first-rounder who is seeing his first real season of action. His strikeouts are high, but right now he’s good in the field, and his power is what they need to be strong down the stretch.

Star pitcher, Adam Wainwright is 40! And at that age, he no longer has gas, but he’s learned to pitch. His 16-7 record is commendable, and it’s making the Cards a dangerous team. He has three complete games, and he’s going to go over 200 innings. Wainwright won’t win the Cy Young, but he deserves to be in the conversation. His WAR is a 3.5. Max Scherzer had a 3.4 with the Nationals before he was traded. Wainwright has been the team’s MVP. Pitching wins it down the stretch and in big games in the playoffs, and this horse is still going.

Around FPC

NFL: Chiefs 2021 Opponent Overview: Baltimore Ravens

NFL: Raiders Opinion: Notes And Musings

NFL: Quick Hits: 49ers Survive in Detroit

MLB: NHL Revamped Rosters for 2021-22: Metropolitan Division Pt. 1

Wrestling: WWE Remains In Denial About AEW

PODCAST: The Eye Test For Two Ep 72: Remembering Mick Tingelhoff With HOFer Fran Tarkenton

The Braves Are Dropping

The Atlanta Braves got stung again by the San Francisco Giants with a walk-off sacrifice fly loss. The Braves are 5-5 in their last 10, and the Phillies are 4-6. The Mets are 3-7 in their last 10. The NL East is pitiful. The Braves’ next game is Charlie Morton vs. Alex Wood. That’s a matchup that is made for the Braves. With the Phillies beating the Mets in their first of three, the old veteran is going to have to be the stopper for them.

Dansby Swanson and Adam Duvall were hot. Austin Riley and Freddie Freeman have been good all year. Jorge Soler could be the key. He has 10 home runs and 22 RBI since coming to the Braves. Soler only has two home runs in September with six RBI. He’s the X-Factor, and Travis d’Arnaud is inconsistent when he plays.

Will Smith is a good closer. He’s hit some rough patches, and yet he still has 32 saves. There’s only one Brave with another save for the entire season. Eight blown saves are the worst in the NL, and Smith has six. He must lock it down, if he can’t, the Phillies just might catch them.