St. Louis @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2015 ) St. Louis 3, Chi. Cubs 5

The Chicago Cubs look to follow up a doubleheader sweep with a series victory when they host the Central Division-leading St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The Cubs, who have struggled offensively in the past few weeks, posted 12 runs combined to take the twinbill Tuesday and boast seven victories in their last nine contests.

All-Star Game-bound slugger Anthony Rizzo recorded three RBIs in the sweep and Chicago rallied for three runs during the seventh inning of the nightcap Tuesday to solidify its hold on the second wild-card spot in the National League. Michael Wacha, also heading to the Midsummer Classic, takes the mound for the Cardinals against Jason Hammel in an attempt to gain a split of the four-game-set. St. Louis, which owns the best record in baseball, has sputtered of late with six losses in its last nine outings. Matt Carpenter (1-for-12, four games) and Jhonny Peralta (2-for-15, four games) have struggled of late for the Cardinals.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (10-3, 2.66 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jason Hammel (5-4, 2.89)

Wacha has been outstanding in the last starts, including six innings of one-run and six-hit ball in a victory over the Cubs on June 27. The 24-year-old Texas A&M product has held opponents to two earned runs in 12 of his 16 starts although the Cardinals are 3-4 in his past seven starts. Starlin Castro is 7-for-14 with a home run versus Wacha, who is 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA in six outings (five starts) against the Cubs.

Hammel is winless in his last five starts, but has limited opponents to two or fewer earned runs in six of his past seven outings. The only start in that span the 32-year-old did not accomplish the feat was against St. Louis when he yielded four runs and six hits in four frames on June 28. Jason Heyward (9-for-16) and Peralta (9-for-22, two homers) have hit well against Hammel, who is 1-3 in five starts versus the Cardinals.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong left the first game of the doubleheader with a head contusion, sat out the second and his status is uncertain for Wednesday.

2. The Cubs are 33-1 when ahead after seven innings and 33-0 with a lead going into the ninth.

3. Heyward recorded two singles in both ends of the doubleheader and has notched multiple hits in four of eight games this month.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Cubs 1