Wacha joins elite group that includes Lynn, three HOF pitchers
In the history of the St. Louis Cardinals entering this season, six pitchers had recorded 250 or more strikeouts in their first 50 career starts.
Michael Wacha makes seven.
Entering his start Monday night against the Giants, Wacha has 259 career strikeouts in 50 starts. (He has another 19 in six relief appearances.) That makes him part of an exclusive club that is headed by his rotation partner, Lance Lynn, and includes three Hall of Famers: Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton and Dizzy Dean.
CARDINALS WITH 250-PLUS STRIKEOUTS IN FIRST 50 CAREER STARTS (SINCE 1914)
| Pitcher | Strikeouts | Years |
| Lance Lynn | 297 | 2011-13 |
| Alan Benes | 261 | 1995-97 |
| Michael Wacha | 259 | 2013-15 |
| Dizzy Dean | 257 | 1930-33 |
| Steve Carlton | 256 | 1965-68 |
| Bob Gibson | 256 | 1959-62 |
| Ernie Broglio | 254 | 1959-61 |
The Cardinals face a San Francisco team that had a .500 record through July 6 but since has played at a .667 clip (22-11) to get back into postseason contention. The Giants are led by catcher Buster Posey, who is hitting nearly .400 in his last 40 games and has been one of the best offensive players in the National League over that span.
Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk also has been blistering the ball, although he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a right elbow strain. Grichuk leads all major league rookies with 43 extra-base hits this season. When he returns, he will be looking to become the seventh Cardinals rookie to lead all major league rookies in extra-base hits for a season.
BUSTER POSEY'S STATS SINCE JUNE 25*
| Statistic | Number | NL Rank |
| Batting average | .392 | 1st |
| Batting average with RISP | .447 | 2nd |
| On-base percentage | .419 | 5th |
| Slugging percentage |
.556 | 5th |
| On-base plus slugging percentage | .975 | 5th |
| RBIs | 33 | T-3rd |
| * Minimum 150 plate appearances for rate stats, 30 plate appearances for BA with RISP |
CARDINALS ROOKIES TO LEAD ALL MLB ROOKIES IN EXTRA-BASE HITS
| Player | Year | Extra-base hits |
| Randal Grichuk | 2015 | 43 (to date) |
| Albert Pujols | 2001 | 88 |
| Wally Moon |
1954 | 50 (tied) |
| Stan Musial |
1942 | 52 |
| Rogers Hornsby | 1916 | 38 |
| Tom Long | 1915 | 48 |
| Joe Delahanty | 1908 | 26 (tied) |
NL TEAMS WITH A WINNING RECORD VS. TEAMS AT .500 OR BETTER IN 2015
| Team | Record (win percentage) |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
31-19 (.620) |
| Chicago Cubs | 27-18 (.600) |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 26-18 (.591) |
| San Francisco Giants | 18-17 (.514) |
