FanHouse P.j.Walters

We haven't even completed two full weeks of the Major League Baseball season yet, but the (arguably) best rivalry in the National League is already giving us a taste of what an exciting race the NL Central could be this year. With all due respect to the Reds, Astros, Brewers and Pirates, and with all due disclaimers about how long the baseball season is, it seems blatantly obvious the two best teams in the division are the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

For the past three days, the two teams have put on an entertaining show for anyone fortunate enough to be watching. Each game went down the wire, with both teams showing a flair for the dramatic.

There's no doubt that the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans had their fingers crossed this season that Chris Carpenter would be able to get through an entire season healthy after missing most of the last two seasons. After seeing the way he pitched in his first start of the season, they probably broke those fingers for them being crossed so hard. Of course their hopes came to an end when Carpenter was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday.

Now the question becomes how much time is Carpenter going to miss because of his strained rib cage. Well, if you ask Carpenter's manager Tony La Russa, he'll tell you that you shouldn't hold your breath. La Russa thinks Carpenter may not be back on the mound until this summer.