Wednesday’s News and Notes: St. Louis Cardinals

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After securing their first series win in nearly two weeks, the St. Louis Cardinals are leading the National League Central by 4.5 games and are tied for the most wins across Major League Baseball. To top a busy month of May, plenty of important news and updates surround the Cardinals.

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Currently on a three-game winning streak, St. Louis wraps up their home series with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight. The Cardinals have outhit the Diamondbacks 23-20 in the past two games and haven’t lost a home series to Arizona since 2010. Lance Lynn, who has two career wins against the Diamondbacks, takes the mound against Josh Collmenter at 7:15 p.m.

The National League’s first All-Star ballot update was released on Wednesday, with four Cardinals currently on pace for Midsummer Classic births.  Six-time All Star Yadier Molina is among St. Louis’s quartet of All-Star leaders, which also feature Matt Carpenter, Jhonny Peralta and Matt Holliday. Infielders Kolten Wong and Matt Adams also place within the top five vote receivers for their specific position.

If 35 year-old outfielder Matt Holliday reaches base in Wednesday’s game, he would become the first player in over 16 years to compile an on-base streak of 43 games to start a season. This feat would also beat the Cardinals’ franchise record to start a season, when Albert Pujols reached base in his first 42 games in 2008.

First baseman Matt Adams experienced a right quad strain when attempting a double in the fifth inning of last night’s victory. Adams was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday morning and replaced in the game by corner infielder Mark Reynolds, who is expected to see an increase in starts for the foreseeable future. In the corresponding move, the Cardinals recalled catcher Ed Easley from Memphis.

While Adams is the latest victim of St. Louis’s early season injury bug, another injured left-handed hitter may soon be making a return. Jon Jay was bothered with left wrist tendinitis in earlier this month and started a rehab assignment on Tuesday with the Peoria Chiefs, going hitless in four at-bats in his first start.

With an off day on Thursday, the Cardinals get back to action against another NL division leader in the Los Angeles Dodgers. Between regular season and the 2014 playoffs, St. Louis has won 5 of their last 7 contests against the Dodgers. The Cardinals look to end May on a positive note and could possibly face reigning NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on normal rest if the Dodgers move him up in the rotation.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals' MLB Draft Preview: Competitive Balance