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

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
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 /
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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
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