On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Cardinals Series Preview

Since July 7, 2015 the Cubs are 11-4 against the Cardinals (8-4 in regular-season games plus three out of four in last year's division series).

This is a real turnaround from the three and a half previous seasons. From the beginning of 2012 through July 6, 2015 the Cubs were 25-40 against their biggest divisional rivals.

This isn't the same Cardinals team that won 100 games last year, either. On their current 25-man roster they have eight players who weren't with the team at any time in 2015.

The Cubs won two of three the last time they played in St. Louis, last month, outscoring the Cardinals 19-6. More of that, please.

Fun fact

The Cardinals have a losing record at home and have won only one series in St. Louis this year against a team that currently is over .500 -- they took two of three from the Phillies earlier this month. And, they just finished losing a home series to the Diamondbacks for the first time since 2003.

Pitching matchups

Monday: John Lackey (4-2, 3.31 ERA, 0.975 WHIP, 3.07 FIP) vs. Adam Wainwright (4-3, 5.92 ERA, 1.529 WHIP, 4.00 FIP)

Tuesday: Jason Hammel (5-1, 2.31 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 3.35 FIP) vs. Michael Wacha (2-4, 4.03 ERA, 1.461 WHIP, 3.48 FIP)

Wednesday: Jake Arrieta (8-0, 1,29 ERA, 0.841 WHIP, 2.48 FIP) vs. Carlos Martinez (4-4, 3.56 ERA, 1.146 WHIP, 4.22 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Monday: 7:15 CT, CSN Chicago

Tuesday: 6:10 CT, CSN Chicago, and ESPN outside of the Chicago and St. Louis markets

Wednesday: 12:45 CT, ABC7 Chicago

Prediction

You wouldn't think the pitching matchups would be all favorable to the Cubs with Adam Wainwright going in this set, but Wainwright has been pretty bad this year. It took a really good start his last time out to get his ERA under six. The Cubs have played the Cardinals well for nearly a year, as noted above. Two of three.

Up next

The Cubs have Thursday off, then return to Wrigley Field to begin a 10-game homestand. It starts with a three-game set against the Phillies Friday afternoon.