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CHICAGO -- Its now or never for the St. Louis Cardinals.This weeks visit to Wrigley Field for a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs may represent their last chance to start closing an imposing gap with the National League Central leaders.Or it may signal a realization that the more practical objective is an NL Wild Card berths.The series opens Thursday as the Cardinals send right-hander Carlos Martinez (10-7, 3.29 ERA) against left-hander Jon Lester (12-4, 2.93 ERA).Martinez is coming off a 13-5 loss Saturday night to Atlanta, giving up seven runs over five innings, including a pair of three-run homers. Lester, who has three wins and two no-decisions in his last five outings, faces St. Louis for the first time this season .Just before the All-Star break the Cubs were mired in a 6-15 slump while the Cardinals had closed to within seven games of the division leaders. And with 10 head-to-head games ahead in the second half, St. Louis was thinking about a potential run.The Cubs have a great team and it would still be a big challenge to catch them if their lead was four games instead of seven, Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter told reporters in mid-July. Its not going to be easy -- but it does at least seem more realistic than it did a few weeks ago.That was then.Three-plus weeks later Chicago owns a 12-game lead on second-place St. Louis. The Cubs have gone 19-6 since a victory just before the All-Star break and now have won nine straight.The Cardinals (60-54) are 4-6 in their last 10 games after Wednesdays 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, but lost first baseman Matt Adams to the disabled list before Thursdays game.The Cardinals come into the series four games behind Los Angeles for the top wild card spot and tied with Miami for the second.Every game for us now is important., said Jhonny Peralta on Wednesday. Today was a big win. Miami lost and we won, so we are good to go. Now we go out there and try to win another game.The Cubs became the first big league team to 70 wins with Tuesdays 5-1 victory over the Angels. They maintain baseballs best record and are on track for 102 wins.Chicago is -- as pitcher Jake Arrieta put it last week -- operating on all cylinders. Among the differences over the last 24 games entering Wednesday was better performances and consistency from Arrieta and other pitchers.Cubs pitchers had a collective 2.37 ERA in that span, including a 2.61 ERA from starters and a 1.76 ERA from relievers. In 24 games prior, the Cubs had a 5.17 ERA.Adams was replaced on the active roster by outfielder Randal Grichuk, who is promoted from Triple-A with a .216 batting average this season and a miserable 1-for-17 five-game stretch at Memphis.Not even a soap opera involving bench player Tommy La Stella and his refusal to report to Triple-A Iowa has distracted the Cubs.The left-handed hitting infielder was sent down to Iowa 12 days ago but was reported to be instead working out at his New Jersey home and Cubs brass put La Stella on the inactive list on Tuesday.Hes a 27-year-old kid and hes working through some stuff and were trying to give him time to work through those things, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said this week. Weve had a lot of contact with him and well continue to do that.Matt Joyce Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Freddie Freeman Braves Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/dansby-swanson-braves-jersey/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Babe Ruth Braves Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Mike Foltynewicz Braves Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please.STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Trace McSorley completed 17 of 23 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns and No. 8 Penn State beat Michigan State 45-12 to win the Big Ten East on Saturday.Penn State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 7 CFP) edged No. 2 Ohio State for the East title, setting up a conference championship game against West winner Wisconsin next week in Indianapolis. The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State 24-20 at home Oct. 22.McSorley set single-season school record for total offense and sparked the Nittany Lions with multiple deep passes in the second half when Penn State outscored Michigan State 35-0.He threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin down the sideline on Penn States first second-half possession and followed it with a 45-yarder to Mike Gesicki on the next drive. Godwin got loose down the middle minutes later and McSorley hit him in stride for 59 yards to give Penn State a 31-12 lead and cap a 21-point third quarter.Andre Robinson added 14- and 40-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for Penn State, and Saquon Barkley scored on a 1-yard run in the second. Barkley left in the third quarter with an apparent right leg injury and did not return.Tyler Davis added a second-quarter field goal for Penn State.Michael Geiger kicked four field goals for the Spartans (3-9, 1-8), the last giving Michigan State a 12-10 halftime lead.POLL IMPLICATIONSPenn State: The Nittany Lions will get another shot to impress the selection committee in the Big Ten championship game.dddddddddddd As for a shake up right now, the question is how far will No. 3 Michigan fall having lost two of its last three, including a double-overtime game at Ohio State.THE BIG PICTUREMichigan State: The Spartans run of nine straight seasons with a bowl appearance under Mark Dantonio was snapped weeks ago. Their chance to play spoiler was hindered by more injuries Saturday. Dantonios squad, which started different lineups on both sides of the ball in every game, lost starting quarterback Damion Terry (concussion), guard Brandon Clemons and TE Josiah Price. Running back LJ Scott hurt his right leg in the first half, and although he returned, was not effective.Penn State: With injuries mounting, Penn State appeared destined for another ho-hum season at best after a Week 4 loss to Michigan dropped the Nittany Lions to 2-2. The vibes were bad enough that athletic director Sandy Barbour had to publicly refute speculation that Franklins seat was hot. Franklins team recovered and hasnt lost since that afternoon in Ann Arbor. Of even more significance is Penn State got it done with one of the youngest rosters in the country. Itll lose just 17 seniors and return many key contributors next season.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '