May 07--ST. LOUIS -- Manager Joe Maddon doesn't believe there's a large gap between his Chicago Cubs and National League Central leader St. Louis despite the Cardinals' eight-game winning streak.
"It's going to keep getting better," said Maddon, whose Cubs are in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
Much of Maddon's confidence Wednesday night stems from left-handed ace Jon Lester, who will take the mound coming off his best performance, when he blanked Milwaukee over seven innings last Friday.
But the Cubs will have to do the little things to beat a Cardinals team whose 20-6 start is their best in franchise history.
"(The Cardinals) come from the liberal arts school of baseball," Maddon said. "They play the whole game. I see a team rather than a bunch of individuals.
"We can play with these guys, I really believe that. We need more experience. We need a little more salt and pepper, a little oregano."
