Cubs at Cardinals
The Chicago Cubs have a chance to break a 58-year-old team record when they visit the National League Central-rival St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night for the opener of a three-game series. The Cubs, who already belted the most homers for any month in franchise history (51) this May, have gone deep at least two times in eight straight games to match the club mark that was set in 1961.
Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each hit longballs as first-place Chicago recorded a 2-1 victory at Houston on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep and win for just the second time in seven contests. Anthony Rizzo takes an 11-game hitting streak (19-for-43, five homers) into Friday’s opener as the Cubs send Yu Darvish to the mound while St. Louis counters with fellow right-hander Miles Mikolas, who is tied for the team lead with four victories. The Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep against Philadelphia with a 5-3 victory on Thursday afternoon, but have not come out on top in their last eight series (0-7-1) - the longest winless streak since 1990. Catcher Matt Wieters (6-for-11, last three games) went deep for the second straight day and Jedd Gyorko launched a two-run shot as St. Louis (27-28) recorded four homers in Thursday’s win to pull within 4 1/2 games of the Cubs (31-23), who swept the Cardinals at home in early May by outscoring them 23-10 in three games.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FB-Watch; NBCS Chicago, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.40 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.76)
Darvish has yet to get a decision in five starts this month, but the Cubs have won three of them including Saturday when he allowed six runs over seven innings in an 8-6 triumph. The 32-year-old Japan native gave up three homers last time out and has struggled with control all year, issuing 38 free passes across 55 innings. Jose Martinez is 2-for-2 with a double and a homer versus Darvish, who permitted five runs over four innings against the Cardinals on May 4.
Mikolas has suffered the loss in three straight outings, but posted two quality starts in that stretch including Friday when he limited Atlanta to three runs over seven innings. The 30-year-old Florida native served up two homers in each of his last two trips to the mound after going three straight outings without giving up one. Javier Baez is 3-for-11 with a homer against Mikolas, who was 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in four starts versus the Cubs last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis Paul Goldschmidt had two hits Thursday and is 12-for-30 over his last eight contests.
2. Chicago INF David Bote is 11-for-22 during an eight-game hitting streak and has recorded 17 of his 22 RBIs on the road.
3. Cardinals C Yadier Molina (33 RBIs) missed his second straight game Thursday because of a bruised right hand.