St. Louis @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2011 ) St. Louis 4, Chi. Cubs 5

THE STORY: Desperately trying to stay in contention in the National League Central, St. Louis faces off against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals fell 7 1/2 games behind division leader Milwaukee after letting an early three-run lead slip away in a 5-4 defeat in Friday's series opener. Pinch hitter Tyler Colvin won it for the Cubs with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox (national)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Cardinals RH Edwin Jackson (2-1, 4.62 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Matt Garza (5-8, 3.80 ERA).

Pitching in Chicago is nothing new to Jackson, who came over from the White Sox in late July after posting a 7-7 record with a 3.92 ERA. He has had mixed results thus far in his return to the National League, and his last outing (5 1/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) was cut a bit short by a hamstring cramp. Jackson has struggled in his career against the Cubs (2-2, 6.21), but was excellent in his St. Louis debut, allowing just one run in seven innings.

Garza has quietly pitched well in his first National League season, striking out 143 in 139 2/3 innings, but he has been hampered all year by low run support and shoddy defense. He has been particularly effective at home, boasting a 2.84 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 12 starts at Wrigley Field. Garza is 1-1 this season against the Cardinals, getting tagged for six runs in 5 2/3 innings of a July 29 road loss and yielding just one run in five innings at home May 11. Cardinals RF Lance Berkman is just 2-for-15 against Garza.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (66-59): St. Louis has struggled in recent weeks to keep pace with the white-hot Brewers in the NL Central, but the team still remains in the hunt thanks largely to a lineup that leads the National League in most major offensive categories, including runs scored (591) and batting average (.271). 1B Albert Pujols has rebounded from a slow start to the season and now leads the league in home runs (30) and runs scored (82).

ABOUT THE CUBS (55-70): Chicago has blown numerous late leads this season, but it was able to play the role of spoiler Friday despite shooting itself in the foot, as it has done all year. The Cubs hit into four double plays in the win, including one in the ninth inning that saw Tony Campana doubled off first base when Starlin Castro popped out during an attempted steal. Chicago 3B Aramis Ramirez, who leads the team with 23 homers and 77 RBIs, has hit safely in eight straight games and is 16-for-32 with three walks during that stretch.

FINAL PITCH: The Cardinals have grounded into 134 double plays this season, far and away the most in the major leagues.