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 The Cardinals took two of three against the Cubs in mid-April,
posting a season-high 10 runs in one of the victories with
Wainwright on the mound. Chicago has won two of its last three
contests, including a 9-4 triumph at Cincinnati on Wednesday that
matched its season best in runs scored. Starlin Castro has fit in
well in the cleanup spot, going 9-for-20 with five RBIs for the
Cubs.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET; MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (5-1, 1.20 ERA) vs.
Cubs LH Travis Wood (1-3, 3.52)
Wainwright has been brilliant in six starts, holding opponents
scoreless in four of them while allowing only 24 hits in 45 innings
overall. The 32-year-old gave up a season-high four runs in seven
innings to beat Chicago on April 12 and boasts a scoreless streak of
25 innings. Junior Lake is 3-for-9 with a homer against Wainwright,
who is 9-6 lifetime against the Cubs – 6-0 with a 3.72 ERA at
Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Wood had given up three earned runs or fewer in his first four
starts before being charged with five over 5 2/3 innings in his last
outing against Milwaukee. The 27-year-old has struck out 31 and
walked only seven in 30 2/3 innings while getting only five runs of
support in his three losses combined. Yadier Molina (11-for-27,
three homers) has hit well against Wood, who is 3-5 in 11 starts
with a 5.16 ERA versus St. Louis.
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WALK-OFFS
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Chicago OF/INF Emilio Bonifacio had 11 multi-hit games through
April with 10 stolen bases and a team-best .337 batting average.
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The Cardinals were fourth in the majors in ERA (2.87) and tied
for 21st in runs scored (105 in 29 games) through Wednesday’s games.
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The Cubs' bullpen has gone 14 innings over five-plus games
without allowing a run after 3 1/3 two-hit frames Wednesday.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Cubs 1
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