St Louis Cardinals

While the St. Louis is eyeing its third consecutive postseason appearance, a number of important events dramatically altered the 2013 season.

Most of these events are based on opportunity, while others are wrapped around raw talent. Perhaps the most important is youth, which the Cardinals boast plenty of.

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates seem like they have been within a game of each other all season.

There’s a reason for that—they almost have been.

The idea that neither team can gain any ground is more than a feeling (Boston pun intended).

Season-ending surgeries sprinkled in with promising performances characterize the St. Louis Cardinals’ Top 10 prospects for the week of Aug. 19.

Injuries are part of the game, sure. Oscar Taveras, the organization’s top prospect is out for the season, left-handed starting pitcher John Gast and right-hander Tyrell Jenkins are also lost for the season due to significant injury.

However, with every downfall, a glimmer of hope emerges down on the farm. A number of young, talented players are getting hot at the right time as their season draws to a close.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—It’s not always easy to manage a team where every time a player gets hot, he gets shipped off.

Pop Warner, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate Memphis Redbirds, says it’s just part of the job.

The trade deadline is approaching. Innings are racking up. The postseason is within sight. This is the state of the St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball right now.

Fans of all teams are asking the tough questions, and I was lucky enough to have an expert on hand!

With the MLB trade deadline less than a week away, Cardinal fans are wondering what magic general manager John Mozeliak has up his sleeve.

The last two seasons, Mozeliak has pulled the trigger on moves that directly impacted the Cardinals stretch run to the postseason. 

The St. Louis Cardinals placed Matt Holliday on the 15-day disabled list Saturday afternoon after the outfielder was unable to work through his hamstring injury over the All-Star break.

According to a statement from the team's official Twitter feed, the move is retroactive to July 12. St Louis has also called up Triple-A standout Brock Peterson to give the team depth during Holliday's absence:

“He’s excited.”

That’s how St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny characterized RHP Chris Carpenter as he continues to make his way back to the major leagues.

Carpenter has been sidelined for the entire season following complications with a nerve condition he received an operation on last year.

The St. Louis Cardinals once again have the best record in baseball. If they can match that performance in the second half of the season, they're looking at over 100 wins.

But in order to do so, some players may need to step up.

As is natural, not everyone within the club has been pulling their weight lately. I've taken a look at the three hottest and coldest players heading into the break, keeping in mind statistics, capabilities and their value to the team.

Read on to find out who's hot and who's not!

As the July 31 MLB trade deadline inches closer, the St. Louis Cardinals will have a few decisions to make to improve the best team in baseball at the time of writing.