Kyle Lohse is pitching very well in the final season of his contract with St. Louis. Lohse ranks second in the National League with a 2.79 ERA and third with 148 1/3 innings pitched. "It's been good to prove that I'm durable and healthy and maturing as a pitcher," Lohse said. "I'm figuring out how to be successful and consistent. I know I've put myself in a good spot so far, but I know we have two months left in the season at least. My main goal is to help us make a playoff run here. That's the biggest issue. If we take care of that, it must mean I did all right. And if I do all right, I'll be taken care of next year." Lohse is open to talking about an in-season extension, though the Cardinals have not yet approached him to open such conversations. "I've been through it before, and I'm pretty good at separating the business side from the personal side," Lohse said. "It's something that I think about at home, but it's not something where I am worried about it when I sit and think about it at home. I know whatever happens, it's going to be all right. "From a personal standpoint, I've had a great time here. If I reach free agency, there are a lot of other teams out there that I'm sure wouldn't mind having me fit in there. If it comes to that, we'll see with what matches up my wants with theirs."