As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:

Cardinals (20/1 odds to win World Series): The Cardinals won 100 games in 2015 and are always in the postseason mix. The Cardinals lost Jason Heyward and John Lackey in free agency and are only projected to win 83 games next seasons – in part because the National League Central is so competitive – but it’s crazy to ever count the Cardinals out.

Adam Wainwright healthy: Any team would be thrilled to add a free agent starter that – has had a sub-3.00 ERA and more than 200 innings in four of the last five seasons and that’s essentially what the Cardinals are doing with Adam Wainwright. While he wasn’t a free agent, the Cardinals are adding him to the mix as he pitched in just four game in 2015 and missed the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. The Cardinals lost John Lackey via free agency, but the return of Wainwright and the addition of Mike Leake have the rotation in good shape.

Experience: The Cardinals have won the NL Central each of the past three seasons and have reached the playoffs in each of the last five years. While the NL Central has certainly gotten tougher over the past couple seasons, the Cardinals know what they are doing and what needs to be done to get to October. Both the Cubs and Pirates are projected to finish ahead of St. Louis, but I’d be pretty nervous to ever bet against the Cardinals.

Management: Mike Matheny has led his team to the playoffs in every season since he took over (2012). Part of that is because of the talented roster and veteran leadership in the Cardinals clubhouse, but Matheny’s role can not be overlooked. GM John Mozeliak has also been very successful. During his tenure the Cardinals have won two NL Pennants, one World Series and made the playoffs several times. Led by Alex Reyes, the Cardinals also have a strong Minor League system. All in all, the Cardinals are in great shape from the top down. There’s a reason why there are regarded as one of the top franchises in baseball and it is those same reasons that keep them in the pennant race each and every year.