St. Louis @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2012 ) St. Louis 4, Chi. Cubs 5

The Chicago Cubs are doing their part to ruin the rival St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs are relishing their role as spoiler as they rallied to stun the Cardinals on Friday and have taken five of seven meetings at Wrigley Field in 2012. St. Louis is now 1 1/2 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League wild card race.

Darwin Barney hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to knot Friday's tilt at 4-4 and David DeJesus singled in the winning run in the 11th inning. The Cardinals have had issues with the bullpen at times this season and both closer Jason Motte and setup man Mitchell Boggs were getting the day off Friday after carrying heavy loads during the week. Both should be back on Saturday, pushing Fernando Salas - who served up Barney’s blast - back to the seventh inning. The Cubs own the second-worst record in baseball but are trying to finish .500 at Wrigley Field. Friday’s triumph brought them back to 37-39 at home.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FSMW (St. Louis), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (13-13, 3.97 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (6-12, 4.25)

Wainwright has not won since Aug. 26 but broke a string of disappointing performances with a strong effort at Los Angeles last Sunday, allowing two runs over six innings in a no-decision. The right-hander had posted seven straight quality starts before stumbling in the beginning of the month. Wainwright was pounded for eight runs in three innings against Chicago on April 13, but has yielded a total of three runs in 12 innings in his last two starts against the Cubs.

Wood is coming off a loss against Pittsburgh on Monday, when he struck out nine but was reached for three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last six starts and has not surrendered a home run in any of the last four. Wood had a rough time against St. Louis in two straight starts at the end of July, yielding a total of 15 runs (14 earned) and 16 hits in 11 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals RHP Jake Westbrook (right oblique) pushed back his throwing session from Friday to Saturday. He hopes to return to the rotation against Houston next week.

2. Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano matched his career high with his 104th RBI on Friday. He is 9-for-36 (.250) with one RBI and 10 strikeouts in his career against Wainwright.

3. St. Louis SS Pete Kozma stole home Friday on a botched suicide squeeze. It was the first steal of home for the Cardinals in 10 years.