Cardinals take 4 of possible 6 games against division opponents

On a week that the St. Louis Cardinals began three games behind the first-place leading Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central division title race, the team seen the return of their heart and soul in starting catcher Yadier Molina -- and following two wins in each of the three-game series', starting this new week clean, the team is now just one game out.

Just as the baseball world was beginning to say that the 2011 World Series champions were looking to go on a major downslide, the team once again stepped up with adversity starring them right in their face and did what this franchise almost always seems to do -- fight back until they can't fight it any more. St. Louis earned two extra inning victories against the Pirates in which they had to come back after the ninth-inning, making it their first two wins of the 2013 season after trailing after eight-innings of baseball.

Not many teams have faced injuries to the magnitude that this seasons team has so far, but considering them, they have done a great job battling around it. Despite the lengthy time that the ball club has spent struggling as of late, entering Monday night's series-opener against the last-place Milwaukee Brewers, they are one game behind the Pirates for the division lead -- and own a 1.5 game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the number one Wild Card spot and 6.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the last and final playoff spot; so while it isn't an insurmountable lead; it is still somewhat of a cushion.

The Cardinals will open up a three-game series at Milwaukee beginning tonight and will end the week with a four game series at home inside Busch Stadium against the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves.

St. Louis Cardinals Baseball: 71 Wins, 52 Losses (.577 Winning Percentage)

[1 Game Behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for First Place in NL Central division]

[1.5 Games ahead of Cincinnati Reds for Wild Card lead/6.5 Games ahead of Arizona for final spot]

Game 118: (Game 1 of 3 in the Series)

Pittsburgh Pirates 3, at St. Louis Cardinals 4 [14 innings]

Game 119: (Game 2 of 3 in the Series)

Pittsburgh Pirates 5, at St. Louis Cardinals 1

Game 120: (Game 3 of 3 in the Series)

Pittsburgh Pirates 5, at St. Louis Cardinals 6 [12 Innings]

Game 121: (Game 1 of 3 in the Series)

St. Louis Cardinals 0, at Chicago Cubs 7

Game 122: (Game 2 of 3 in the Series)

St. Louis Cardinals 4, at Chicago Cubs 0

Game 123: (Game 3 of 3 in the Series)

St. Louis Cardinals 6, at Chicago Cubs 1