But one has to wonder if, finally, mercifully, the Cardinals’ pitching staff has caught up to the Cubs’ staff? Or, different wording, the Cubs staff has returned to planet Earth? Both John Lackey and Jake Arrieta have ERAs that look like Ivy League GPAs.

Still, it’s hard to look at the Cubs’ roster and believe that they’ll be .500 on June 11, or July 11. So of course, for St. Louis to stay standing in this fight, the Birds will have to play good baseball, and the reality is, you can only play the Braves and Marlins so many times.

But I will say, what’s stood out in most of these recent wins has been the way St. Louis has won — which is to say, the way St. Louis hasn’t blown it. Entering Wednesday, the Cards had committed only three errors in the previous six games. And there hadn’t been many conspicuous baserunning blunders. Instead, there has been this infusion of athleticism and defense, those two words married to one another this winter by the optimistic minister, John Mozeliak.

Of course, said athleticism and defense have come from two of the most unlikely sources — minor leaguers Tommy Pham and Mags Sierra — which is to say, it’s probably not sustainable. Still, Sierra! Magnificent. The speed and glove are big-league ready; the budding bat is being swung by adrenaline.