St. Louis @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2018 ) St. Louis 2, Chi. Cubs 7
A day after one of their ugliest losses in nearly a decade, the Chicago Cubs get a chance to put it behind them - in fact, they get two chances. The first-place Cubs look to bounce back from an 18-5 drubbing when they host the St. Louis Cardinals for a day-night doubleheader Saturday.
The National League Central rivals have split the first two of the five-game series, as the Cubs rallied to take the opener and St. Louis had its revenge in Friday’s rout. Matt Carpenter continued his hot streak, going 5-for-5 with three homers, two doubles, and seven RBIs, as the Cardinals improved to 2-1 under interim manager Mike Shildt. The lopsided defeat was just the Cubs’ second loss at home since June 20 and their fourth in 17 games overall. The only silver lining for the Cubs is they were able to preserve their bullpen somewhat for Saturday’s doubleheader by using three position players - Tommy La Stella, Victor Caratini, and Ian Happ - to combine for 3 1/3 innings of relief.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH John Gant (3-3, 3.49 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (3-3, 3.91)
Gant has been a valuable swingman for the Cardinals, bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation. The 25-year-old made his last start July 6, allowing two runs over six innings in a no-decision at San Francisco, and he threw four scoreless frames in relief July 15 against Cincinnati. Gant has faced the Cubs only once, in 2016, and allowed three runs (two earned) over 4 1/3 innings in a loss.
Montgomery has become a mainstay in the rotation since Yu Darvish went to the disabled list, and he is 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA in nine starts. The 29-year-old has not been as effective of late, allowing three or more runs in each of his last four starts with just one victory. Montgomery is 1-1 with a 1.15 ERA in nine appearances against the Cardinals, but this will be his first start against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Carpenter has homered in four consecutive games - the longest streak of his career - and has six homers against the Cubs this season.
2. St. Louis CF Tommy Pham went 3-for-5 with three RBIs Friday and is 11-for-29 with eight RBIs and 11 runs against Chicago in 2018.
3. Cubs C Willson Contreras hit his ninth career home run against the Cardinals on Friday, tied for the third-most by a catcher in Cubs history (Gabby Hartnett, 39; Michael Barrett, 12).
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Cardinals 4