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5 Reasons The St. Louis Cardinals Won’t Make The Playoffs In 2016

By Derek Helling

Feb 18, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Luke Weaver (left) looks over at starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (center) as starting pitcher Matt Bowman (right) listens on at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Luke Weaver (left) looks over at starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (center) as starting pitcher Matt Bowman (right) listens on at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. Improvements in the Division

Rick Scuteri, USA TODAY Sports
Rick Scuteri, USA TODAY Sports /

In 2015, St. Louis won 46 out of 76 (a winning percentage of .605) games played against the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates. While the NL Central produced the three best records in baseball in 2015, it was partially because Cincinnati and Milwaukee were atrocious.

Anyone who has paid any attention at all this offseason will be aware of the improvements that the Cubs have made, but the Brewers and Reds actually improved as well.

Last year was a lost season for both organizations,; both teams took to re-building and finding out what they have in their farm system while enriching it. As young players got experience in 2015, there’s nowhere for the arrow to point on both teams but up.

While the Pirates will have some new faces in new places this coming season, there’s no reason to expect Pittsburgh to drop off significantly. The Pirates have retained their core, and the Cardinals were just 10-9 against Pittsburgh last season.

Next: 2. Improvements in the National League

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