Chicago Cubs: The script has been flipped on the Cardinals

With the recent success of the Chicago Cubs, the St. Louis Cardinals no longer reign supreme in the NL Central

Over the last three seasons, the Chicago Cubs have installed a winning culture on the North Side of Chicago that was lacking for the better part of 100 years. In 2015, the Cubs narrowly missed winning the NL Central crown, ending the season three games behind the Cardinals.

With their division title in 2015, the Cardinals claimed their tenth. Much of that success was due in part to the dominate Cardinal teams from the early 2000’s. Lead by Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols (whose rookie season was in 2001), the franchise won five division titles from 2000-2006.

This dominance was continued as the Red Birds won three straight division titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

During the most recent stretch of Cardinals’ success, the Cubs spent their time in the cellar of the Central. In 2013, for example, the North Siders lost 96 games, finishing 31 games back of their rivals.

As the Cardinals dropped to 90 wins in 2014 from 97 a year earlier, the Cubs improved to 73 victories. Still, the Cubs lay buried 17 games back and in last place while their foes dominated the division.

That same season, 2014, was a sort of turning point for the Cubs as a team. It was Jake Arrieta‘s first full season with the Cubs, in which he finished ninth in the Cy Young voting. Also, Javier Baez made his first appearance on a big league roster, playing in 52 games and hitting just .169.

2015 was the jumping off point for the Cubs

An advantage to having the worst record in baseball year in and year out is the draft picks you earn. With the second pick in the 2013 draft, the Cubs picked Kris Bryant, while they chose Kyle Schwarber with the number four pick a year later.

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Entering the 2015 season, the Cubs had a rotation that included Jake Arrieta and a newly signed Jon Lester. In addition to that, the Cubs had a line-up that incorporated Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant. With a talent filled roster, the Cubs set out to lay claim to the division.

What would ensue would be beyond what many had anticipated before the season. In what was supposed to be an in-between season before more guys reached the majors, the Cubs won 97 games and earned a Wild Card birth.

First up for the Cubs was a one game playoff with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a battle of the aces, Jake Arrieta hurled a complete game shutout to beat the Pirates.

Their victory over Pittsburgh set the Cubs up for a best of five series against the Cardinals. After the Cubs were blanked in Game 1, they rattled off three straight, knocking off the division winners.

While the Cubs would eventually be swept by the New York Mets in the NLCS, their NLDS victory over the Cardinals proved to many the balance of power in the NL Central was changing.

This season has everyone looking up at the Brewers

The Cubs came prepared for more success in 2017. With a healthy Schwarber and minimal losses to free agency, 2017 looked to be even better than 2016. Despite those high hopes, the Cubs have struggled to get anything going.

With Schwarber hitting just .181, and both Lester and Arrieta owners of 4.00 plus ERA’s, the Cubs find themselves in second place. Currently, the Cubs have a 49-46 record and sit one game behind the Brewers. While the Cubs have started the second half by winning six of their first seven games, an 11-4 loss to the Cardinals on Friday put a damper on their momentum.

Even with the most recent Cardinals victory over the Cubs, Chicago holds a six games to four head-to-head advantage over St. Louis this season.

Throwing head-to-head records out the window, both teams are currently trailing the Brewers. The Cubs, as stated earlier, sit in second place, one game back. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are in fourth place, 3 1/2 games off the pace.

While 3 1/2 games is definitely something the Cardinals can overcome, the idea of them being in fourth place in the division this late in the season is a new one for many baseball fans.

Even though that may be the case, Cubs fans would tell you it is a nice change of pace.

Next: Chicago Cubs set the tone for NL Central foes in the trade market

With the Cubs loaded with position player talent and big name starters, it would seem wise to suggest the Cubs are the new kings of the Central. Let’s hope the Cubs can find as much success at the top as the Cardinals did.