St. Louis @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 5, St. Louis 2
One of the most heated rivalries in baseball will have a little extra fuel this weekend. The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday afternoon for the opener of a season-ending three-game series, with both teams fighting to determine their postseason fate.
The Cubs have clinched a playoff berth, but they’re locked in a tight race with Milwaukee for the National League Central title - and the NL’s top seed. Chicago increased its lead over the Brewers to one game with a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Cardinals’ playoff hopes took a big hit earlier this week as they were on the wrong side of a three-game sweep in their showdown with Milwaukee, dropping them one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second wild-card spot. Adam Wainwright could be making his final start for the Cardinals in the series opener.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Midwest (St. Louis), ABC 7 (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (2-3, 4.08 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (13-11, 3.49)
Wainwright has made three starts since returning from the disabled list, and the Cardinals have won all three. The 37-year-old struck out six while allowing four runs over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against San Francisco in his last outing. Wainwright is 15-9 with a 3.94 ERA in 44 career games (35 starts) versus the Cubs, including an 11-2 record at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks has allowed fewer than three earned runs in seven straight starts, posting a 1.55 ERA over that stretch. The 28-year-old has given up just one run in each of his last two outings after limiting the crosstown White Sox to four hits over 7 2/3 innings in a win on Sunday. Hendricks is 4-2 with a 3.49 ERA in 13 career starts against St. Louis.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago 3B-OF Kris Bryant (wrist) missed his second consecutive game Thursday and is day-to-day.
2. Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter is hitting .105 with two extra-base hits and 16 strikeouts over his last 11 contests.
3. Cubs 2B Daniel Murphy, who has gone 11-for-32 during his seven-game hitting streak, is 8-for-20 with three extra-base hits against Wainwright.
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Cardinals 2