St. Louis Cardinals Daniel Descalso jumps after scoring from second base on a RBI single by Xavier Scruggs in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 21, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said there are more than ten players who are affected with flu-like symptoms, saying after Sunday’s 7-2 loss to Cincinnati that there may be more players unavailable to play then those that are well enough to go.
Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams were out of the lineup for the second game in a row and it’s possible some players may have been held out of the late night flight to St. Louis as the club looks to contain whatever bug has hit the clubhouse.
The Cardinals have clinched a playoff spot, but now try to finish off the final six games on the road in search of a Central Division title. Â St. Louis has a 2.5 game lead over Pittsburgh and a three game series that starts in Chicago. The Cardinals then wrap up the season in Arizona.
The Cubs are 69-87 and the Diamondbacks are 62-94. Â Pittsburgh road is a little tougher starting Monday in the first of four games at Atlanta, where the Braves are three games under .500. Â The Pirates wrap up the season in Cincinnati.
If the Cardinals manage to just play .500 ball at 3-3, the Pirates would have to go 6-1 to overtake St. Louis for the division.
