Chicago @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2014 ) Chi. Cubs 5, St. Louis 1

Exactly one year ago, Javier Baez and Arismendy Alcantara were playing in Triple-A Iowa while Jorge Soler was getting untracked in Single-A. Fast forward to the present, the three rookies look to continue their momentum as the Chicago Cubs play a doubleheader against the host St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Soler homered twice, Alcantara also went deep and Baez ripped a go-ahead two-run double as the Cubs posted their fifth win in seven contests with a 7-2 triumph on Friday.

Although his rookie days are long gone, Matt Holliday isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The 34-year-old had an RBI single in the series opener to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and has driven in 10 runs during that stretch. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they've dropped three in a row to reside 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central while clinging to the second wild card.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Tsuyoshi Wada (4-1, 2.56 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Marco Gonzales (0-2, 7.07)

A solo homer was the only hit allowed by Wada, who struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings en route to a 2-1 triumph over Baltimore on Sunday. The 33-year-old native of Japan is 4-0 in his last six outings and hasn't lost since July 23. Wada has yet to record a decision away from home but boasts a 1.69 ERA in 10 2/3 frames.

Gonzales was scheduled to start Friday's contest for Triple-A Memphis before being informed he was going to receive the nod for St. Louis. The 22-year-old had posted a 4-1 mark with a 3.35 ERA in eight starts with the Redbirds following his first big-league stint. Gonzales didn't fare as well in his three starts in the majors, allowing 11 runs on 21 hits in 14 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis C Yadier Molina went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his return from the disabled list.

2. The Cardinals have won seven of the 13 meetings with the Cubs this season and eight of the last 11 in St. Louis.

3. Chicago manager Rick Renteria did not divulge whether 1B Anthony Rizzo (back) would end his three-game absence on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 2