St. Louis @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2013 ) St. Louis 0, Chi. Cubs 3
With their National League Central lead down to a single game, the visiting St. Louis Cardinals will look to avoid a second consecutive loss to the pesky Chicago Cubs when the rivals continue their four-game series on Friday. The Cardinals were shut out for only the fourth time all season in the opener, managing four hits against Edwin Jackson and four relievers in a 3-0 defeat that snapped their five-game winning streak. St. Louis leads Pittsburgh by a game and holds the best record in the majors.
The Cubs are trying to get within seven games of .500 for the first time since May 31, when they were 23-30. They've won five of six even as they're in the midst of a fire sale to speed up their rebuilding process. St. Louis has won four of seven meetings this season.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (0-3, 4.15 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Carlos Villanueva (2-4, 3.63)
Kelly has been used primarily out of the bullpen this year but made his second start of the season Saturday against Miami, allowing four runs over six innings in a no-decision. A pair of home runs accounted for most of the damage. Kelly is 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA in three games (one start) against the Cubs.
Villanueva's second stint in the rotation this year got off to a solid start Sunday at Pittsburgh. He allowed just one run on three hits but lasted only four innings as he continues to stretch back out following a six-week stint working out of the bullpen. Villanueva is 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 27 appearances (eight starts) against St. Louis.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals LF Matt Holliday left Thursday's game with tightness in his right hamstring and could get the next three days off heading into the All-Star break.
2. St. Louis C Yadier Molina, who leads the National League with a .339 average, is 4-for-21 against Villanueva.
3. The Chicago landmarks commission voted unanimously to approve a deal between the Cubs and the city that will allow the club to pursue renovations of Wrigley Field, including the addition of a video scoreboard in left field. The matter now moves to the City Council.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Cubs 5