St. Louis @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 2, St. Louis 3

The St. Louis Cardinals look to provide the finishing kick on the final leg of their season-long nine-game road trip Tuesday when they play the opener of their abbreviated two-game interleague series against the Chicago White Sox (30-60). St. Louis (46-43) won four of its first six contests on the trek before dropping a 13-8 decision at San Francisco on Sunday.

Matt Carpenter has shifted into a higher gear after limping out to the worst start of his career, highlighted by a pinch-hit three-run homer in Sunday's setback to improve to .298 over his last 59 games. Carpenter, who paces the Cardinals in nearly every major offensive category, will bid for a fourth All-Star appearance as he competes in the National League's Final Vote. Jose Abreu booked his second All-Star appearance and first as a starter, marking the first member of the White Sox to earn the latter honor since Hall of Famer Frank Thomas won the fan election at first base in 1996. Abreu, however, is mired in a 2-for-23 stretch with six strikeouts over his last seven contests for the slumping White Sox, who have dropped five in a row.


TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (9-3, 2.63 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Covey (3-4, 5.54)

Mikolas was selected to his first All-Star Game on Sunday, four days removed from allowing two runs over six innings and overcoming a career-high four walks in an 8-4 victory at Arizona. The number of free passes likely was quite a surprise for the 29-year-old, who didn't issue more than two walks in any outing this season. Mikolas will get his first look at the White Sox, however he owns a 2-0 career mark with a 1.99 ERA in five interleague outings.

Covey's good fortune has soured over his last four starts as he owns an 0-3 record with a bloated 13.20 ERA after yielding 22 earned runs on 21 hits -- including six homers -- and 13 walks in his last 15 innings. The 26-year-old answered being taken deep four times against Texas on June 29 by getting blitzed for six runs in 3 2/3 frames of a 7-4 setback at Cincinnati on Wednesday. Covey has yet to face St. Louis in his career and has posted an 0-2 mark with a 7.16 ERA in five interleague encounters (four starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 2B Yoan Moncada, who had a two-run double in a 3-2 loss to St. Louis on May 1, has a homer, six RBIs and six runs scored during his seven-game hitting streak.

2. Cardinals C Yadier Molina is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday after missing the last two contests because of shoulder soreness.

3. White Sox INF Yolmer Sanchez, who had an RBI single in a 3-2 setback to St. Louis on May 2, has reached base in each of his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, White Sox 2