Cards' stretch vs. division rivals a proving ground in lively NL Central race

It’s hard to poke many holes into the Cardinals' 27-19 start to the 2026 season. Boasting the eighth-best winning percentage through 45 games, this young team has Busch Stadium the liveliest it's been in years, with “Tarps Off” taking the city by storm.

The last time the Cardinals were at least eight games above .500 through their first 45 games was in 2015, when they won 100 games and the National League Central. And the last time they were at least seven games above .500 at this point was in ‘21, when they won 90 games and captured a Wild Card spot.

If the Cardinals want to make a serious run at the postseason as a surprise contender this year, they’ll have to duke it out with the rest of the NL Central. And over the next two weeks, they’ll get to hold themselves to that measuring stick.

All four of the Cardinals’ next series are against a division rival -- three games against the Pirates at home, a road trip to Cincinnati and Milwaukee, then wrapping up with a weekend series against the Cubs at Busch Stadium. To this point, the Cards have only played two series against teams in the NL Central, pulling off a four-game sweep in Pittsburgh and splitting two games at home against the Brewers.

Few games carry more weight over a 162-game season than those played within the division. The history, familiarity, and deep-rooted rivalries bring extra intensity to every contest, and each game provides an opportunity to directly impact another team’s playoff aspirations, for better or worse. The stakes are even higher with how the NL Central is performing this year.

The Cardinals, Brewers, and Cubs own three of the eight best records in the sport, and all five Central teams are above .500 entering play Monday.

A strong stretch against their division foes would not only deepen the buy-in from fans but also create real separation in a crowded NL playoff picture.

The Cardinals and Brewers sit 1 1/2 games back of the Cubs for the division lead and are tied for the second Wild Card, holding a 3 1/2 game lead over both the Pirates and Reds.

Since Chaim Bloom took over as Cardinals president of baseball operations, the organization has consistently talked about building a sustainable contender capable of competing for division titles year after year. These next two weeks offer their clearest opportunity yet to show they may already be ahead of schedule.

The Cardinals' offense has been the biggest driving force of their success this year, and they’ll have to continue to produce if they want to keep their three-week streak of series wins or splits alive. All five NL Central offenses rank top 15 in the Majors in runs scored.

On the pitching side, only the Cardinals and Brewers rank in the top 10 in rotation ERA thus far. Outside of Milwaukee, late-inning consistency has been harder to find across the division.

The Cardinals have spent the first quarter of the season forcing the baseball world to take notice. They’ve stacked series wins, rebounded from adversity, revived the energy in Busch Stadium, and watched their young core blossom in real time.

This division race can pour gas on that flame or a wet blanket over it. Rivals tend to reveal how sustainable a team really is. They become far more familiar with tendencies and weaknesses, finding ways to expose those at the expense of their division foe’s postseason chances.

At the end of the day, the standings will tell the final story. If the Cardinals are still flying high after this stretch, they won’t just continue to drive discussion about what this team could be capable of; they’ll position themselves firmly in the center of the NL playoff picture as the summer heats up.