St. Louis @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2013 ) St. Louis 0, Chi. Cubs 7
The Chicago Cubs don't have much left to play for this season, but trying to spoil the rival St. Louis Cardinals' playoff hopes seems to provide plenty of motivation. The Cubs continued their recent strong play against the Cardinals with a win Friday and will try to make it two series wins against St. Louis in as many weekends when the teams clash Saturday. The Cardinals slipped three games behind National League Central leader Pittsburgh after being two-hit in the series opener in Chicago.
The Cubs, blanked in four of their previous five home games, had the bats going in the opener and will try to keep the offense clicking against right-hander Joe Kelly. The Cardinals have been shut out eight times this season - three of them by the Cubs - but should be able to get well against left-hander Travis Wood, as St. Louis' active roster has a collective .329 average against the All-Star. The season series is tied at seven wins apiece.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (3-3, 3.27 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (7-9, 3.00)
Kelly has not lost in six starts since rejoining the rotation on July 6, going 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA over that span. He was unable to extend his winning streak last time out against the Cubs, allowing four runs - three earned - on five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. The 25-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA in five appearances (three starts) versus Chicago.
Wood continues to churn out quality starts - he has 20 in 24 outings this season - but he still has little to show for it in the win column. He was outdueled by Mat Latos last time out, allowing two runs over eight innings in a 2-0 loss to the Reds. The 26-year-old is 3-3 with a 4.61 ERA in nine starts versus the Cardinals, including a 1-1 mark in three meetings this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals C Yadier Molina, who got the day off Friday, is 9-for-23 with two homers against Wood.
2. Wood is 2-5 with a 2.92 ERA in 10 starts against NL Central opponents.
3. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong made his major-league debut Friday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Wong is the No. 4 prospect in the Cardinals' system according to MLB.com.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 3