Open Thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Sunday 8/20, 1:20 CT

For the second straight start, Juan Mateo is matched up with a former Cy Young Award winner. Good as Chris Carpenter is, though, he has not defeated the Cubs this year -- a loss and a no-decision in a game the Cubs eventually won.

Last time out, against Roger Clemens, Mateo held his own, throwing five decent innings in the memorable 18-inning game last Tuesday. Mateo seems to have good poise on the mound and, as shown vs. Clemens, won't back down from a confrontation.

Today's Starting Pitchers

J. Mateo Cubs vs. C. Carpenter Cardinals 1-0 W-L 11-6 2.57 ERA 3.00 5 SO 131 6 BB 34 0 HR 18 vs. StL -- vs. Cubs

If the Cubs can win today, they will be 12-4 against the Cardinals in 2006; they haven't won that many games in a season vs. St. Louis since 1984 (13-5). Since the last Cub pennant year in 1945, they have won 12 or more games against the Cardinals only six times: 1954 and 1955 (when they played them 22 times a year, and the Cardinals were just about as bad as the Cubs were in those years -- 14 of 22 each time), 1976 (12 of 18), 1978 (15 of 18, and the first 12 in a row), and 1984.

So, bad as this season has been, beating your arch-rival this many times is sweet. Do it!

I have forgotten the Gameday link for the last two games, so here it is for today:

MLB.com Cubs Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves.