The Latest Breaking News from Willson Contreras

The Cubs opened a four-game series against the Cardinals on Thursday.

Ian Happ hit Willson Contreras with his back swing in the series opener Thursday.

MIAMI — Jack Flaherty delivered the start the Cardinals want more often.

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals returned from their European excursion with a daunting homestand waiting for them in St. Louis with the defending World Series champion Houston Astros the first foe knocking at their door.

The Cardinals have 13 games left before the regular season pauses for MLB's All-Star break.

WASHINGTON — Rested and refreshed after a day off on Monday, Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson launched a pair of home runs into the night sky, and left-hander Jordan Montgomery kept the Washington Nationals hitters from inflicting any significant damage as the Cardinals matched their longest win streak of the season…

ST. LOUIS — Paul Goldschmidt was not a fan of the premise.

CINCINNATI — At the stadium his teammate Adam Wainwright called “The Devil’s Lair” because of the horrors it's inflicted on his ERA in Cincinnati, Steven Matz continued a downward trend that began with a tumble right there at Great American Ball Park.

Following a depressing start, St. Louis now looks like the best team in the NL Central.