Pirates could gain a major September advantage as Cardinals lose JJ Wetherholt

The Pittsburgh Pirates have spent most of the second half waiting for something — anything — to break their way in the National League Wild Card race. Finally, something did.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right wrist tendinitis, removing one of their most important young players from the lineup just as September begins. Wetherholt is hitting .242 with 17 home runs and 48 RBI in 130 games and has been one of the leading candidates for NL Rookie of the Year.

Pittsburgh enters September at 67-71, only one game behind the 68-70 Cardinals after taking two of three at Busch Stadium over the weekend. The Pirates are still six games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, so there is virtually no room left for another extended slump. But they also need the teams directly in front of them to start losing, and St. Louis suddenly looks much more vulnerable.

Pirates playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but JJ Wetherholt injury weakens NL Central rival Cardinals at a crucial time

The Cardinals have already lost seven of their last nine games. Wetherholt's absence further weakens a team that Pittsburgh must leapfrog before it can even begin worrying about the clubs currently holding postseason position.

This is where the contrast between the two NL Central rivals becomes intriguing.

While St. Louis is losing Wetherholt as September begins, Pittsburgh should soon be getting Konnor Griffin back. Griffin began a rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Altoona, and he's headed to Toledo with Triple-A Indianapolis this week. He's eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Friday. Before his injury, he was providing the Pirates with the kind of speed, athleticism and lineup upside they have badly missed during their second-half offensive collapse.

One injury doesn't suddenly make the Pirates postseason favorites, of course. Wetherholt had also cooled recently, collecting only one hit in his final 12 at-bats before landing on the IL, and Pittsburgh still has several teams to climb over with only 24 games remaining. But September races are often determined by who is healthiest when the calendar turns.

The Pirates spent much of August watching their own injuries and offensive problems sabotage what once looked like a realistic playoff push. Now they have a chance to flip that script. Griffin is nearing a return, the Pirates have won four of their last six, and one of the teams immediately ahead of them just lost a foundational player for at least 10 days.

The Pirates still need to do the hard part and actually win. For once, though, the circumstances around them are starting to cooperate.

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