Cubs at Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals struck first in a significant series with the visiting Chicago Cubs and can try to bolster their lead in the National League Central when the old rivals continue their three-game set Wednesday. The teams entered the series tied atop the division but it was Paul Goldschmidt's solo homer in the sixth inning that snapped a tie and lifted the Cardinals to a 2-1 win.
The St. Louis slugger has seven home runs over his last eight games with 14 RBIs in that stretch. The home team has now won all 10 matchups between the teams this season and the Cardinals will try to improve to 5-0 at home against the Cubs when they give the ball to Miles Mikolas on Wednesday. Javier Baez had the lone RBI in Tuesday's loss for Chicago, which has dropped six of its last eight to see a three-game division lead turn into a one-game deficit. The Cubs hope to snap out of the funk behind right-hander Kyle Hendricks on Wednesday.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, WGN (Chicago), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (7-8, 3.26 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.19)
Hendricks is 0-4 over his last six starts despite posting a 3.99 ERA - 2.88 over the last five. He blanked Milwaukee over five innings in a no-decision his last time out, yielding two hits and fanning five. The Dartmouth product posted his third career shutout with a gem against the Cardinals on May 3 at home and is 7-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 16 career matchups.
Mikolas followed up his second career shutout three turns ago with a pair of quality starts, including a win at Pittsburgh on Thursday. He is 5-4 with 2.15 ERA at home after going 8-4 with a 2.17 mark at Busch Stadium during his 2018 All-Star campaign. The 30-year-old is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his career versus the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs acquired RHP David Phelps from Toronto in exchange for RHP Thomas Hatch, placed RHP Pedro Strop (neck) on the 10-day injured list and recalled RHP Duane Underwood Jr. from Triple-A Iowa.
2. The Cardinals recalled OF Lane Thomas from Triple-A Memphis and claimed LHP Adalberto Mejia off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.
3. Cubs 3B-OF Kris Bryant is 0-for-14 with six strikeouts over a three-game stretch.