Cardinals at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs erupted for 23 runs en route to sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field early last month before being limited to just six while being swept away in the Gateway City last weekend. The National League Central rivals will renew acquaintances in Chicago on Friday afternoon with the opener of a three-game series.
The Cubs found their offense upon returning to the Windy City, scoring 23 runs to win three straight before falling victim to a pitcher making his major league debut in a 3-1 setback to Colorado on Thursday. Javier Baez's RBI single in the sixth inning capped his third multi-hit performance in his last four outings after going 0-for-7 in the previous series with the Cardinals. Slumping Paul DeJong belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning in Thursday's 3-1 win over Cincinnati, helping St. Louis finish a 4-1 homestand and move within 2 1/2 games of first-place Chicago. The Cardinals hope that good fortune travels well, as they embark on a season-high 10-game trek looking to improve upon an NL-worst 11 road wins.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.41 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.62)
Mikolas' winless stretch extended to four starts on Friday despite allowing one run on six hits in seven innings of a no-decision versus the Cubs. The 30-year-old kept the ball in the park after surrendering two homers in each of his previous two outings. Anthony Rizzo is 5-for-14 versus Mikolas, although the hurler has flustered Kyle Schwarber (1-for-10, four strikeouts) and Willson Contreras (1-for-8).
Hamels answered his worst start of the season with one of his better ones on Sunday, but the result was the same as he lost his second straight decision despite allowing one unearned run on two hits in seven innings at St. Louis. The 35-year-old essentially was undone by a throwing error from Contreras as well as a sterling start by Cardinals counterpart Adam Wainwright. Matt Carpenter (5-for-15) has fared well versus Hamels, although the veteran hurler has gotten the better of Dexter Fowler (4-for-23, six strikeouts) and Paul Goldschmidt (1-for-11).
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis LF Marcell Ozuna is 12-for-29 with two homers, six RBIs and four runs scored in his last eight games.
2. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant went 2-for-13 with seven strikeouts in last weekend's series versus the Cardinals.
3. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong went 6-for-10 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored against Chicago last weekend.