St. Louis @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2013 ) St. Louis 4, Chi. Cubs 6
The St. Louis Cardinals will attempt to earn a split against the Chicago Cubs when the National League Central rivals meet at Wrigley Field on Sunday for the finale of their four-game set. After being blanked in the series opener, St. Louis edged Chicago 3-2 before suffering a 6-4 setback on Saturday. Lance Lynn suffered his third loss in four starts after winning 11 of his first 12 decisions for the Cardinals, who fell for just the second time in nine games but dropped into a tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates for first place in the division.
The Cubs built a 6-1 lead Saturday as Luis Valbuena belted a two-run homer and Alfonso Soriano launched a solo shot. Soriano has hit six of his 16 home runs in his last eight games. Chicago has won six of its last eight contests but occupies fourth place in the NL Central, 14 games out of first place.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (12-5, 2.30 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (6-6, 2.69)
Wainwright looks to close out the first half with his third consecutive triumph. The 31-year-old has worked at least seven innings in each of his last three outings, including a seven-frame performance against the Houston Astros on Tuesday in which he allowed just one run and five hits en route to victory. Wainwright, who has won eight of his nine home decisions this year, is 6-6 lifetime versus Chicago after yielding four runs over seven innings in a loss on June 18.
Wood is attempting to make it back-to-back victories after going 0-3 over his previous six starts. The 26-year-old defeated the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, allowing two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Wood is 3-3 in eight career outings against the Cardinals, including a road loss on June 17 in which he gave up four runs - three earned - and seven hits in seven frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Wainwright has failed to complete seven innings only once in his last 10 starts.
2. Chicago claimed OF Cole Gillespie off waivers from San Francisco on Saturday.
3. Wood is the first Cubs pitcher to produce 17 quality starts before the All-Star break since Greg Maddux in 1988.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 2