St. Louis @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 6, St. Louis 3
THE STORY: With their postseason hopes fading, the St. Louis Cardinals will open a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday against their rivals. After dropping two of three to the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis remains seven contests the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and six behind Atlanta Braves for the wild card. The Cardinals have won seven of nine versus the Chicago Cubs this season, but the latter is starting to put it together. Despite losing their last two in Houston, the Cubs have won 12 of 17.
TV: 2:20 p.m., CSN, FS-M
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Randy Wells (4-4, 5.90 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (10-6, 3.42 ERA)
Wells has yielded six homers in his last four starts, and batters are hitting .303 against him. In six career appearances against the Cardinals, Wells is 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA. On June 4 in St. Louis, he allowed four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 5-4 loss.
Garcia is 1-3 over his last six starts, having left his last three after five innings. He has a 6.00 ERA in August, with opponents hitting .349. However, he’s 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 15 innings against the Cubs this year - including a seven-inning, one-run outing at Wrigley Field on May 12.
ABOUT THE CUBS (54-70): Shortstop Starlin Castro has 20 three-hit games this season, tied with Boston's Adrian Gonzalez and Texas' Michael Young for the most in the majors. He has excelled from the leadoff spot (.345, 56-for-162) and No. 2 spot (.335, 59-for-176) but struggles when hitting third (.224, 39-for-174). The Cubs are 44-26 this season when scoring at least four runs, 10-44 when scoring three or fewer.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (66-58): Third baseman David Freese is hitting .357 (46-for-129) with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 37 road games, compared to a .273 average at home. In 12 August games, Freese is hitting .318 (14-for-44) with 10 RBIs. The Cardinals are thrilled to have the versatile Allen Craig back in a groove. Craig, who fractured his kneecap on June 7, went 0-for-9 upon his return before going 4-for-5 with two homers Wednesday against Pittsburgh. Craig played right field, but also has started eight games at second.
FINAL PITCH: St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina raised his average to .297 with three hits in Wednesday’s 7-2 win in Pittsburgh. The defensive stalwart is aiming for his second .300 season, having hit .304 in 2008.