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Why the Cubs can't dismiss concerns about Cardinals

After an eventful and entertaining weekend of baseball, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are right back to where they started before their four-game series began.

But these team two teams are hardly finished with one another.

The first-place Cubs lead the second-place Cardinals by 12 games in the National League Central. It was 14 after the Cubs took the first two games of the series, winning on a walk-off and then crushing the Cards 13-2.

Far from having their spirits crushed, the Cardinals showed some heart by coming back against the Cubs bullpen in the final two games of the series to gain a split.

Of course, the Cubs are in the driver's seat in the Central, and they have the best record in major-league baseball at 73-43. But the Cards (62-56) can still make this a bumpy ride for the Cubs.

The two teams meet again twice before the regular season ends: Sept. 12-14 in St. Louis and Sept. 23-25 at Wrigley Field.

Things could get really interesting after that.

The Cardinals had a half-game lead in the wild-card race heading into Monday's action.

If the Cubs end the season with the best record in the NL and the Cardinals get a wild-card spot and win the one-game playoff, these two teams would meet for a second straight year in the division series.

Last year, the Cardinals won the Central with 100 victories, but were beaten by the Cubs in the NLDS, three games to one.

As we head down the home stretch, here are few things to watch for with the Cubs and their Gateway Arch rivals:

Road warriors:

While the Cubs have the best record in baseball, the Cardinals currently own the best road record, at 34-23.

If the Cubs and Cardinals meet in the NLDS, the Cubs would have home-field advantage, but that won't intimidate the Cardinals.

They're 5-2 at Wrigley Field this season. Their three-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley from June 20-22 sent the Cubs on their pre all-star-break tailspin.

Bullpen blues:

Both teams have had their issues in the bullpen. Both also have changed closers since the season began, but for different reasons.

The Cardinals' Trevor Rosenthal pitched himself out of the ninth-inning job before ending up on the disabled list. Seung Hwan Oh has emerged as the new closer, and he earned a five-out save Sunday night as the Cardinals rallied for a 6-4 victory.

Former Cubs closer Hector Rondon lost his job but only because the team obtained Aroldis Chapman in a trade last month with the Yankees. Rondon was rocked Sunday night in his first game back after a bout with a sore triceps.

The Cubs have had problems lately in setup innings. Newcomer Joe Smith has given up 3 homers in 5 appearances, and manager Joe Maddon has used lefty Mike Montgomery sparingly. The Cubs obtained Montgomery in a July 20 trade with Seattle.

On the bright side for the Cubs, right-hander Justin Grimm has pitched well since coming back from two recent stints in the minor leagues.

The injury bug:

The Cubs miss setup man Pedro Strop, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week. They'll also got a scare Sunday night when No. 3 starting pitcher John Lackey left the game with shoulder tightness.

So far, the Cubs have weathered most of their injury issues without missing much of a beat.

We'll see what happens with the Cardinals. They suffered the latest blow in the series opener with the Cubs last Thursday when Matt Holliday suffered a broken right thumb as he was hit by a pitch from Montgomery.

The Cardinals' disabled list also includes first baseman Matt Adams, shortstop Aledmys Diaz and pitcher Michael Wacha.

St. Louis teams in the past have done well in the game of attrition. We'll see how they come through this latest spate of injuries.

To be continued.

• Follow Bruce's reports on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.

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Scouting report

Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field

TV: WGN Tuesday afternoon; WPWR Tuesday night; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday and Thursday

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Trevor Cahill (1-3) vs. Matt Garza (4-4) Tuesday at 12:20 p.m.; Jason Hammel (12-5) vs. Chase Anderson (7-10) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Jon Lester (12-4) vs. Jimmy Nelson (6-12) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.; Jake Arrieta (14-5) vs. Zach Davies (9-5) Thursday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: The day-night doubleheader was made necessary by a rainout on April 27. The Brewers (52-64) come to town fourth in the NL Central. Ryan Braun is enjoying a resurgent season with a line of .328/.391/.571 with 22 homers and 65 RBI. Chris Davis has 27 homers and 66 RBI. The Brewers rank 12th in runs scored in the NL, and their pitchers are ninth in ERA (4.26). Cubs pitchers lead the NL in ERA (3.15). They entered Monday tied for first with Washington in quality starts (75) while the Brewers were 14th (45). Cahill comes off the disabled list to start the first game of the doubleheader. He had been part of the Cubs bullpen before suffering a knee injury and then rehabbing it in the minor leagues, where he got stretched out to start.

Next: Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Friday-Sunday

- Bruce Miles

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