St. Louis Cardinals: Three Things We Learned From the Cubs Series

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May 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk (15) is congratulated by third base coach Chris Maloney after hitting a home run off of Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (not pictured) during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Wednesday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals dropped their second straight game to the Chicago Cubs, falling in the series 2-1. Though this isn’t the outcome fans wanted, we learned some things that we may not have known before.

The Chicago Cubs topped the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday by a score of 9-8. The decisive third game gave the Cubs the series win and put them eight games ahead of St. Louis in the National League Central standings.

In game one of the series, the Cardinals defeated the Cubs 4-3 after Randal Grichuk hit a walk-off home run. In the second game the Cubs routed St. Louis 12-3, knocking Michael Wacha out of the game in the fourth inning.

In the third and final game, the Cardinals fell behind 6-1 in the second inning, only to come back from the deficit to make it a 6-4 game. Kris Bryant quickly widened the gap by hitting a home run over the bullpen in left field to make it a 9-4 game. In the sixth and seventh inning, Matt Holliday and Matt Adams homered, driving in four runs total and pulling the game within one run.

The Cardinals had a promising chance to tie or win the game in the ninth inning, as Stephen Piscotty and Matt Adams reached base with no outs. However, Hector Rondon shut down the Cardinals with three consecutive outs and the comeback chance ended there.

Though the Cubs took the series over the Cardinals at home, there were some glaring learning points for fans to take away from the matchup. Whether good or bad, knowing more about yourself or your opponent is something that helps in the game of baseball, and this series told us a lot about the two rivals.

Next: Grichuk and Adams on the rise

May 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Travis Wood (37) gives up a home run to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. The Cubs won the game 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Randal Grichuk and Matt Adams may be on the rise

Just as Redbird Rants editor Steven McNeil released a piece suggest Randal Grichuk may need to be sent down to Triple-A Memphis, it looks like the 24-year-old was poised to prove Steven wrong. Grichuk had a few impressive games against the Cubs, and may be ready to breakout of the slump that he has been in for the majority of the season.

Before the series started on Monday, Grichuk carried a dismal .220 average and hasn’t been producing like the Cardinals had hoped. After the series, Grichuk’s batting average now lies at .241, as he went 6-13 against Chicago.

Grichuk’s production is something that the Cardinals have missed so far this season and something that the Cardinals were counting on when preparing the roster in spring training. His walk-off home run and solo home run on Wednesday could prove to be catalysts for the outfielder. If Grichuk could get on a roll for the Cardinals, that would be just one more piece that St. Louis needs to fall in place for them to really put it together.

Another Cardinal that had success against the Cubs was Matt Adams, who’s average has been steadily rising and now sits at an impressive .316. Cardinals fans haven’t been so high on Adams lately, but from his 6-9 performance against the Cubs, fans may start to warm up to the idea of Adams manning first base.

His two-run home run in game one set the table for Grichuk’s game winner, and his home run Wednesday showed that it may not have been a fluke. We may be seeing more starts for Matt Adams in the near future if he continues on this roll.

Both players could prove to be key pieces for the Cardinals for the rest of the season. Grichuk could prove that he deserves to be an everyday outfielder for the Cardinals and has the potential to be one of the best bats on the team.

Likewise for Adams, but if trading the first baseman is in the cards, raising his trade stock while producing for St. Louis is something that fans definitely wouldn’t complain about.

Next: Arrieta is beatable after all

May 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (left) reacts as St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jake Arrieta is not invincible

The pitcher that everyone has been talking about since last season was on the mound for the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon. With an ERA of 1.72 and a record of 9-0, the praise comes with good reason. Though Arietta grabbed his ninth win in St. Louis, the Cardinals gave him his biggest test so far in 2016.

In the first and second innings of the contest, the Cardinals put up two runs on the board when Steven Piscotty drove in Aledmys Diaz and Randal Grichuk homered. In the fourth inning, the Cardinals pushed Arrieta further, putting up two more runs. The Chicago righty’s night ended after he shut down the Cardinals in the fifth inning and his pitch count forced him out of the game.

For most pitchers, four runs wouldn’t be anything to get too worked about, but scoring four runs on Jake Arrieta is different. Those four runs prove that the Cardinals can hang with Jake Arrieta and that he isn’t an unstoppable force.

That is, as long as he doesn’t always receive the kind of run support that he has so far this season. Before facing the Cardinals on Wednesday, the Cubs’ lineup produced right around eight runs per games started by Arrieta. This game was right in line with that number, as the Cubs scored nine and continued that extremely high run production.

If we learned anything from this game, it is that if the Cardinals’ pitching can dim the Cubs’ offense while Arrieta is on the mound, he can be defeated. The Cardinals or their fans shouldn’t be scared when Arrieta takes the mound, just like they aren’t afraid when Clayton Kershaw steps on the rubber against the Cardinals. The Cardinals may have lost to Arrieta, but this provided that small glimmer of hope that may be really important in future match-ups with Cubs’ ace.

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

May 24, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) reacts after allowing a solo home run to Chicago Cubs left fielder Jorge Soler (68) at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Michael Wacha situation is getting serious

The Cardinals look like they have a big problem on their hands with Michael Wacha. The starter struggled mightily in his game two appearance against Chicago. In just four innings Wacha allowed eight hits and eight earned runs, as well as walking four batters. The right-hander’s ERA now sits at 5.04 and his struggles are beginning to scare the most optimistic fans.

Wednesday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals dropped their second straight game to the Chicago Cubs, falling in the series 2-1. Though this isn’t the outcome fans wanted, we learned some things that we may not have known before.

1. Randal Grichuk and Matt Adams may be on the rise

2. Jake Arrieta is not invincible

3. The Michael Wacha situation is getting serious

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