MLB Power Rankings: Cards Sealing The Deal

Jul 31, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) looks on from the dugout in the game against the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

It could mean nothing, but history would tell us that the return of Adam Wainwright could be just the shot in the arm that the Cardinals need.

Heading in crunch time, it would appear that the Saint Louis Cardinals are still the team to beat in the National League. They have held off both the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates in the second half and that’s no easy task. The Pirates at 95 wins would have an easy lead in any other division in the league and the Cubs would be the same.

The Cardinals did this without arguably its two best players, Matt Holiday and Adam Wainwright. Now they have both back. Holiday hasn’t been brilliant since returning earlier this month, but with the playoffs looming he’s a player that can get hot any any time and carry a team.

Much of the same can be said for pitcher Adam Wainwright, although the team won’t be expecting much from their ace. Sidelined by an Achilles injury earlier this year, Wainwright will come out of the bullpen for their potential playoff run. Wainwright hasn’t come out of the bullpen since the team’s 2006 World Series championship. During that span he threw 9 2/3 innings striking out 15 and notching 4 saves.

Still, the Cardinals have a rough postseason ahead of them if they hope to win a World Series for the first time under Mike Matheny. As it stands today, their Division matchup would be against either the Cubs or Pirates which would look to be as difficult as me trying to ride one of those darn mono-rover things.

But no matter what happens in the regular season, this is the Saint Louis Cardinals we’re talking about. I wouldn’t bet against them.

Now let’s hop into this weeks slightly delayed MLB power rankings.

Biggest Jump: Marlins (4 spots)

Biggest Drop: Reds (3 spots)