Chicago @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 6, St. Louis 5

The St. Louis Cardinals still sit atop the National League wild-card standings, but their margin for error has shrunk considerably during a 4-13 swoon. The Cardinals look to snap their four-game losing streak and avoid a sweep at the hands of the visiting Chicago Cubs on Sunday. St. Louis was shut out in the first game of the series and blew a two-run lead late in Saturday's 6-5 loss despite a pair of home runs by Matt Holliday.

The Cubs had only won two of 11 games before Friday and already have clinched their first series at St. Louis since September 2010. Rookie Junior Lake has recorded three hits and two walks in 10 at-bats while scoring three runs over the first two games of the set. The Cubs’ bullpen, near the bottom in the majors with a 4.17 ERA, has allowed one run in six innings this series.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (7-12, 4.96 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (3-3, 2.98)

Jackson yielded seven runs over five innings in his last start after winning four of his previous five decisions. The right-hander, who went 5-2 with the Cardinals in 2011, shut out his former club over seven innings on July 11 after losing to them 4-1 on June 19. Allen Craig is 5-for-12 against Jackson, who is 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) versus the Cardinals.

Kelly owns a 1.82 ERA in six starts and has been especially good in his last four, going 3-0 while allowing two runs over 23 innings. The 25-year-old gave up one run and three hits in 5 1/3 frames to beat the Cubs on July 12 and is 1-2 with a 3.14 ERA in 14 1/3 career innings against them. David DeJesus is 3-for-4 versus Kelly, who has struck out 18 and walked 14 in 34 2/3 frames as a starter.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 2B Matt Carpenter leads the NL in doubles with 35 and is second in the majors behind Baltimore’s Manny Machado (42).

2. Chicago C Welington Castillo is 16-for-38 in his last 14 games after registering a homer, a sacrifice fly and two walks Saturday.

3. St. Louis RHP Seth Maness has forced opponents to ground into 13 double plays - most among NL relievers.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 3