(670 The Score) In late 1969, then-Cardinals broadcaster Harry Caray had an expression that angered Cubs players and fans alike.
"The Cardinals are coming, tra la, tra la," Caray would say in a humming song as the Cardinals – as well as the Mets – made their move on the first-place Cubs late in the season.
Cardinals fans even wore buttons and T-shirts with Caray's saying on them as the Cubs faded that season, with the Mets eventually crushing their dreams of winning the pennant.
While the truncated season and expanded playoff format now brings a different dynamic than in 1969, the Cardinals are once again trying to run down the Cubs. St. Louis sits 2.5 games back of Chicago in the NL Central after sweeping a doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Saturday, and that has heightened the stakes Sunday and Monday in the final two games of the series. The upcoming games mark the final two of 10 games the rivals will play in the regular season.
The Cubs have controlled the NL Central since a red-hot 13-3 start, but they built that advantage on the back of superb starting pitching that has now become more of question mark. While Yu Darvish has performed at a Cy Young level and Kyle Hendricks remains a rock, the rest of the Cubs' rotation has suffered from attrition and inconsistency, making Chicago's hold on first place in the division appear shaky.
Tyler Chatwood and Jose Quintana are on the injured list. Jon Lester has struggled mightily in three of his past four outings and takes a 5.11 ERA into his start against the Cardinals on Sunday evening. Alec Mills has a 5.50 ERA in seven starts, while youngsters in Adbert Alzolay and Colin Rea failed to get out of the third inning in their respective starts in the doubleheader Saturday.
With the trade deadline having passed, the Cubs could use someone internally to step up. The 24-year-old Alzolay may be the best candidate, as he had thrown six scoreless innings in his first two appearances of the season before a lack of command led to five walks and two runs allowed in in just 2 2/3 innings in the opener Saturday.
The pitching situation has left manager David Ross in a conundrum, as he has had to rely heavily on his bullpen lately. Ross and the Cubs deserve credit for maintaining their lead in the NL Central amid the rotation's return to earth and with an offense that has a few stars struggling mightily, but they know if they're to hold onto their division lead and be best-prepared for the playoffs, they'll need more from their starting pitchers.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
