Chicago @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 24, 2016 ) Chi. Cubs 12, St. Louis 3
The Chicago Cubs rediscovered their offense in the middle game of their three-game series at St. Louis, but they might not need many runs with their ace on the mound Wednesday. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta takes the mound for the series finale, opposing Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez in the rubber match.
The Cubs got the bats going Tuesday, scoring six runs in the first inning en route to a 12-3 victory that snapped a season-high three-game losing streak. The Cubs have been racking up blowout victories – their average margin of victory in 30 wins is 5.1 runs and they lead the majors with 17 wins by five runs or more. Chicago is searching for its third straight series victory at Busch Stadium dating to last season, which the Cubs haven’t achieved since 2007. The Cardinals are trying to avoid losing back-to-back series at home, where they are 13-14 this season.
TV: 1:45 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (8-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (4-4, 3.56)
The Cubs have won Arrieta’s last 22 starts – a franchise record – and he has claimed his last 19 decisions. Over his last two outings, Arrieta has racked up 19 strikeouts while allowing three runs and seven hits over 15 innings. The 30-year-old is 4-1 with a 1.63 ERA in nine starts against the Cardinals, who will face him for the first time this season.
Martinez hasn’t lasted past the fifth inning in any of his last three starts and has lost four straight. He will look to regain his dominant form from April, when he won all four of his starts and held the Cubs to one run and three hits over seven innings on April 20. The 24-year-old is 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA in 15 games (five starts) against Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs 2B/OF Ben Zobrist is 17-for-41 during an 11-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the National League, and has reached base in each of his last 30 starts.
2. The Cardinals have scored 34 runs in the ninth inning this season, while the Cubs are 28-0 when leading after eight.
3. Chicago RF Jason Heyward (bruised ribs) went 0-for-5 in his return to the lineup Tuesday and is now 1-for-17 against his former team this season.
PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Cardinals 1