ST. LOUIS -- Kolten Wong remained out of the starting lineup for the Cardinals' 9-0, division-title-clinching win over the Cubs on Sunday.

The second baseman has been out since sustaining a Grade 2 left hamstring strain running the bases on Sept. 19 at Wrigley Field.

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“It’s going to be hard to get him out there,” manager Mike Shildt said. “I can’t rule it out. I just don’t want to put him in a position where he feels like, in this magnitude, that he’s got to beat something out.”

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Wong had hoped to return this weekend against the Cubs, after spending the week in St. Louis going through treatment and rehab. Although the pain has subsided each day, and he’s able to hit and take ground balls, the explosive running makes him hesitate.

“I’ve understood my game has a speed aspect, which I bring to my defense, baserunning, hitting, being able to put bunts down and beat it out,” Wong said Saturday. “That’s my game. If my speed’s not there and I’m hobbling on one leg, I’m really not playing how I should be playing.

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“People want me to play, I want to be playing, but the last thing I want is to hurt it one more time. Because if I hurt it one more time, I’m done, the postseason is gone for me. That’s why I’m making sure that if I’m going to take that kind of risk, at least it’s a risk for a right reason.”

Edman sensation

Entering Sunday’s game, Tommy Edman had reached base safely in 17 straight games and had hit safely in a career-best 10 straight games. The rookie infielder has had a sensational season, especially this month, including:

• His .366 batting average at Busch Stadium is the third-highest by a Cardinals rookie at home in franchise history

• His 15 extra-base hits and 68 total bases since Sept. 1 are Cardinals rookie records

• He entered Sunday with seven straight multi-hit games, the longest such streak by a Cardinals player since Matt Carpenter did so from April 12-19, 2015.