Chicago @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 3, St. Louis 0

The St. Louis Cardinals owned the best record in the major leagues just over two weeks ago, sitting 25 games over .500 and looking like the team to beat in the National League. Then came seven consecutive losses against Atlanta and Pittsburgh, and the Cardinals have yet to recover, falling four games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the National League Central. St. Louis will attempt to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

The Cardinals fell to 4-12 over their last 16 games following Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cubs - the first time they've been shut out at home by Chicago since 1997. It marked only the third win in 12 contests for the Cubs, who managed just five singles in the series-opening victory. Anthony Rizzo entered the series batting .197 against left-handers and .181 with runners in scoring position, but he delivered a pivotal two-run double off lefty reliever Randy Choate.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Carlos Villanueva (2-8, 4.16 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (1-0, 4.58)

Villanueva was a hard-luck loser in his last start, allowing only one run on two hits over six innings in a 1-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers that kept him winless since June 29. He went 7 1/3 innings to beat Texas in mid-April but is 0-7 over his last 11 starts, a span interrupted by a stint in the bullpen. Villanueva is 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 28 career appearances (nine starts) versus the Cardinals.

Wacha is the second pitcher in three games to be promoted from Triple-A Memphis. He made three starts earlier in the year, with the last one resulting in his first major-league win as he limited the New York Mets to two runs over six innings. A first-round draft pick in 2012, Wacha is 5-3 in 15 starts at Memphis and has limited opponents to a .210 batting average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals LF Matt Holliday has hit in seven straight and 12 of 13 games.

2. Cubs RHP Matt Guerrier is expected to undergo surgery for a flexor mass in his right elbow but will not require a Tommy John procedure.

3. St. Louis CF Jon Jay has six multi-hit efforts in his last 10 games, including three three-hit performances in the last six.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 8, Cubs 4