Pujols Placed on 15-day DL

If the Chicago Cubs were hoping for a break, they may just have gotten it, courtesy of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was placed on the 15-day disabled list today after straining an oblique muscle in Saturday's game against the Cubs. Pujols will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury and how long he will likely be out. At this point, he could miss as much as six weeks.

The Cardinals also have starting pitcher Chris Carpenter on the DL, and center fielder Jim Edmonds also has been recovering from an injury. Suddenly, the Cardinals don't seem to be the dominant team without Pujols in the lineup and other key injuries. This might prove to be a blessing for the Cubs and the rest of the National League Central. You might see one or two teams make a push to the top of their division.

Pujols is leading the majors in home runs (25) and RBIs (65). At the pace he was playing, he could have finished the season with 75 home runs and close to 200 RBIs.