St. Louis @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2019 ) Chi. Cubs 0, St. Louis 8

The St. Louis Cardinals look to build on their three-game lead in the National League Central when they open a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The Cardinals and Cubs face each other in seven of their final 10 games with the Milwaukee Brewers also factoring in the division and wild card races.

St. Louis stretched its lead by a game with a 5-1 victory over Washington on Wednesday while the Cubs lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Cincinnati to remain tied with the Brewers for the second wild card spot. The Cardinals have been outscored 40-16 while going 0-6 at Wrigley Field this season but are highly optimistic for this visit after increasing their lead on the eve of the series opener. "We're excited about the competition, we're excited about the opportunity," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt told reporters after Wednesday's win. "We're going to be aggressive. We're going to get after it. We're going to go out there, have some fun, play our game and lay it all out there. That's all we can do." Chicago has lost two straight after winning its previous five and managed only four hits in Wednesday's setback.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (10-8, 3.05 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (11-9, 3.26)

Flaherty lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in his last turn when he struck 10 and gave up three runs and five hits over six innings. The 23-year-old won his previous two starts in dominating fashion, allowing no runs and six hits over 16 innings. Flaherty allowed one hit over seven shutout innings in a win over the Cubs on Aug. 1 and is 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts).

Hendricks has been superb against St. Louis this season, going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in three starts to improve his career ledger to 8-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 17 outings. The 29-year-old has won back-to-back starts and has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of his last six turns. Hendricks is 6-2 in 13 starts with a stellar 1.75 ERA and 0.82 WHIP.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs are 7-5 overall versus the Cardinals this season but will be without SS Javier Baez (thumb) and 1B Anthony Rizzo (ankle).

2. INF Tommy Edman's homer Wednesday gave St. Louis 10 players with 10 or more blasts for the first time in franchise history.

3. Chicago RHP Craig Kimbrel (elbow) threw on the side Wednesday and is expected to be activated Thursday or Friday.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Cubs 1