MLB: A Closer Look at the Division Leaders

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Central: St. Louis Cardinals (41-35)

Strengths: offense, starting rotation, bullpen

Weaknesses: third base, outfield

Top competition: Milwaukee Brewers (39-34), 0.5 GB; Chicago Cubs (35-35), 3.0 GB

The Cardinals are giving everyone a run for their money atop the National League Central, which the Cubs were favored to win yet again coming into this season. The Cardinals, 2006 World Series champions, are tired of playing second pony to the Cubs, and have thus far earned first place in the division.

Offense should never be a problem for a team that has Albert Pujols, who has hit .323 with 26 home runs and 70 RBI to this point. He isn't alone in offensive production, with Yadier Molina hitting .278 with five homers, and rookie Colby Rasmus adding seven home runs of his own.

Tony La Russa's Cardinals are sixth in the National League in runs scored, as well as third in the National League in total bases.

The biggest strength of this club, though, is its pitching. A healthy Chris Carpenter next to the talented Adam Wainwright has proved to be one of the most formidable one-two punches atop any starting rotation.

Carpenter brings five wins and a minute 1.78 ERA to the table, while living up to his status as a control artist by only walking nine batters. Wainwright complements Carpenter's style to the tune of eight wins, a 3.51 ERA and 89 strikeouts.

Also solid out of the back end of the rotation has been Joel Piniero, who has been a victim of poor run support. A control artist like Carpenter, Piniero boasts only 12 walks in 92 innings of work, while also compiling a 6-8 record with a respectable 3.40 ERA.

Ryan Franklin, Kyle McClellan, and Trever Miller have all been lights out for this team as of late. Miller, who is nearing the twilight of his career, boasts a 2.79 ERA and 20 whiffed batters.

McClellan, in only the second year of his career, has been stellar, going 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA. Finally, closing out games has been Ryan Franklin, who has been nearly unhittable this year. With 17 saves, Franklin is also the owner of a 0.96 ERA and a sparkling 0.85 WHIP.

Third base and the outfield have been problem positions for the Cardinals this year. With Troy Glaus, the team's best power hitter not named Pujols, out until at least late July, not having seen any action this season, the Cardinals are platooning Joe Thurston and Khalil Greene at the hot corner.

Among outfielders, both Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel have struggled mightily, and they have both also missed time due to injury. Ludwick, who had monster power numbers last season, is hitting .226 with 11 long balls at this point. Ankiel, who had a comeback for the ages in 2007, is hitting .240 with five homers.

Even fourth outfielder Chris Duncan has struggled. He got off to a good start, but has floundered more recently. His batting average has dipped to .249, and he has hit five home runs, while seeing his way into 69 games this year.

If the Cardinals want to go somewhere in the playoffs, it will require improved play from some of these outfielders.

The Cardinals are in first place right now, but winning the division is no sure thing. The Milwaukee Brewers are right on their heels, while both the Cubs and Reds aren't lurking too far behind either. If the Cardinals go on a prolonged skid, it may just be enough to take them out of the race.

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