Whipping through the Bible Belt this week, there's a lot of great baseball being played and a big week ahead. The Braves have won seven of nine, the Cardinals are leading the NL Central and the entire National League and the Cubs have taken seven out of ten. Since this is Memorial Day weekend, this is the mark that sets the pace. If you're sitting in first at this point, about three out of every four teams have made the playoffs since 1968 when divisional play began. With that in mind these three cities have visions of October, and it's time to tale them serious.

The Windy City's beloved Cubs are exceeding expectations with an influx of talented youth that they're building on every day. They picked up Anthony Varvaro, a righty reliever from the Boston Red Sox, and have now sent him back. After examinations it was revealed that Varvaro had a torn labrum and will require surgery. Good thing the Cubs kept the receipt.
After a 6.23 ERA in April, Jon Lester now has a 1.85 ERA through May. The early panicking has proved to be ridiculous early prognosticating. Jon Lester is a proven veteran that the Cubs will be glad they have in a one game play in game.

The Cubs will definitely be buyers this July. Rafael Soriano is still a free-agent and Chicago is heavily rumored for his services. The biggest possible  move, and most interesting rumor for Cubs Nation, is Addison Russell to the Mets for either Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz or Jacob deGrom. Both sides are saying the right things, but it makes sense for both sides. Because there's a gun-shy mentality on dealing young studs, they might do a lesser Starlin Castro for one of the Mets lesser pitchers like Jon Niese or Dillon Gee.

The St. Louis Cardinals are playing as well as anybody in baseball, but has a few holes to fill. A rotation addition is inevitable, but the question is how big of an addition. St. Louis, Boston, New York Yankees and LA Dodgers will all be fighting for that elusive Cole Hamels edition. The Dodgers seem like the front runner now, so the Cardinals might set their sites on a lesser arm.
There will be a few pitchers available at the trade deadline. Oakland is bound to be selling and Johhny Cueto is also out there. Will Cincinnati trade him to a division rival? That remains to be seen. An outfield bat off the bench is also on the Cardinals' radar.

The Atlanta Braves are on fire, and need to ride that wave out west. This week has Atlanta at the Dodgers for three and three in San Francisco. They're going to face Kershaw after his drubbing last week, and Atlanta has never fared well versus him or out there, period. If the Braves can come out there 3-3 this week it would be like a home stand of 5-1. Even 2-4 wouldn't be the end. Last year a West Coast trip sank the Braves, and they never recovered. This is a huge trip!
The next few weeks will tell us if Atlanta will be buyers or sellers. If Atlanta does add, it will be lower tier players that might help them in the wildcard race, but nothing earth shattering. A lower-end starter is a must. A return of Phillies hurler Aaron Harang could be the answer. Eric Stultz and Trevor Cahill have been disasters.
If they fall out, the Braves have a lot of small pieces that could reel in prospects. On the trade block if Atlanta falters: RP Jason Grilli, RP Jim Johnson, utility men Alberto Callaspo and Eric Young.

Tampa Bay is leading the AL East and the whole baseball world is in shock. Alex Cobb and Drew Smiley are injured, and yet the Rays are leading the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles at the Memorial Day mark. Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi are proving to be quite the 1-2 punch. The bullpen got great news this week as Jake McGee returned to the pen. Look for him to eventually retake the closer's role. Brad Boxberger has been outstanding, so regardless, it will just options at the end of the game. Smiley is rehabbing and still may return in a few weeks.

The Rays are now in buyers club come this July. Offense is what they will need. Some of the names that you can look for Tampa to try and land are 1B/DH Ryan Howard-Phillies, 1B/DH, Justin Morneau-Rockies, and Josh Reddick OF-A's. Whoever they go for, they need a splash, maybe two. The Rays offense is anemic at best. If they add just a run a game, Tampa Bay might waltz to the division title, leaving the big market Red Sox and Yankees shaking their heads and fists as Tampa outsmarts them again.
Next week the Bible Belt Baseball Report will start a full on trade watch, as we enter the last two months before the trade deadline. If it's a possibility, it will be explored, RIGHT HERE!