ST. LOUIS — Yadier Molina is an MVP candidate, Adam Wainwright is back in ace form and Carlos Beltran is playing like a kid. And that’s only half the six-player All-Star contingent that led the St. Louis Cardinals to the best record in the majors at the break.

The Cardinals have done enough things right, leaning on rookies and resiliency, to compensate for some serious personnel blows. They’re 21 games above .500 entering a six-game home stand Friday that starts against the Padres.

Getting there hasn’t been a smooth ride for second-year manager Mike Matheny and general manager John Mozeliak. They’ve had to fill two rotation spots on the fly, find a replacement closer and endure dry patches from the National League’s best offense.

The Cardinals figure to be in the market for starting pitchers at the trade deadline, unless they continue to get results from the kids who’ve replaced Jaime Garcia, out for the season, and Chris Carpenter, who has yet to make his 2013 debut. Carpenter is trying to come back from a nerve injury.

After some searching, a replacement closer was found for Jason Motte, who had elbow surgery this spring. Former middle reliever Edward Mujica saved his first 21 chances and was an All-Star.

“We’ve had adversity,” Matheny said. “We’ve had plenty of things not go exactly how we wanted to. It’s just important to keep playing the game.”

No one’s been able to keep St. Louis down. After dropping eight of 11 and giving up the NL Central lead, the Cardinals won eight of 11 heading into the break and have a one-game lead over the Pirates.