USA Today MLB writer Gabe Lacques joins Bernie. Gabe offers up his thoughts on the Cardinals and how they stack up against the competition they may face in the postseason. He gets Gabe's thoughts on the Milwaukee Brewers, the fallout from the Josh Hader trade, and if they have enough pieces to get back into the race. Gabe also talks about why the Padres have scuffled since the trade deadline.

Bernie offers up his thoughts on the Cardinals' Monday night lineup in Chicago before turning his attention to Yadier Molina. Bernie admits he doesn't agree with Molina's decision to leave the team to support his basketball team in its championship game in Puerto Rico, but thinks the outrage about is overblown. Bernie explains how Molina has made his own rules in recent years, and how he has sacrificed way more than the team had to sacrifice playing without him for two games. Bernie also questions why Molina agreed to return for 2022.

Bernie recaps the Cardinals' successful weekend in Arizona and Paul Goldschmidt winning NL Player of the Week honors. He also talks about the fallout on Twitter and in the Brewers clubhouse over the team trading away Josh Hader, despite experts widely praising the trade across baseball.

Bernie talks about the case for Paul Goldschmidt earning induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame after his career given how his numbers stack up to his peers.

Bernie talks about how electric the atmosphere at Busch Stadium has been in recent weeks. He highlights just how amazing it is to get the level of the production the Cardinals have gotten out of 42-year-old Albert Pujols.

Bernie visits with St. Louis Post-Dispatch Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel. Bernie and Rick react to the Cardinals placing Ryan Helsley on the paternity list and optioning Juan Yepez to Memphis. They discuss why there is no easy path to playing time for Yepez in St. Louis with Lars Nootbaar having grabbed the starting right field spot.

Bernie talks about the recent decline of the Yankees as he tries to figure out what Brian Cashman was thinking when he traded Jordan Montgomery for an injured Harrison Bader. He also talks about the news that came out about Jimmy Garoppolo being a bad teammate and talks about how the 49ers are better off with Trey Lance.

Bernie opens the show talking about how Cardinals fans should be glad the team didn't acquire Madison Bumgarner given the remaining money he's owed on his contract and the superior performance of Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana. Bernie also looks at the Cardinals' path ahead in the Central Division after the Milwaukee Brewers lost to the Chicago Cubs.

Bernie puts a bow on today's program and previews Friday's show.

Cardinals beat writer for MLB.com, John Denton, joins us live from the press box at Busch Stadium to talk baseball with Bernie.