Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals preview, Tuesday 4/17, 7:05 CT

This weather forecast, again, is not really conducive to baseball. But, unlike Saturday, Sunday and Monday, it will just be cold tonight, and less windy. So they should get this game in without too much trouble. If you’re going, dress warm.

An interesting note about the 2018 Cubs:

The 2011 team’s 10-10 is the longest stretch in major-league history that any team kept up this pattern from the start of a season.

That team finished 75-87. I’m pretty sure this year’s Cubs will do better than that.

Also, the Cubs put together this cool video about Saturday’s wild comeback win:

Another weird fun fact:

Final note: Beginning July 7, 2015, when the Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Cardinals at Wrigley, the Cubs are 33-18 vs. St. Louis (that includes the three games to one win over them in the 2015 NLDS). They were 14-5 vs. the Cardinals last year. More, please.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Cardinals lineup:

Tyler Chatwood, RHP vs. Adam Wainwright, RHP

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Chatwood has made two starts as a Cub, one pretty good (although too many walks) and one not so good. He’s allowed 13 hits and seven walks in 11 innings for a 1.818 WHIP, which is way too high.

Chatwood had a one-inning relief appearance against the Cardinals last year and allowed one run. Previously, he hasn’t faced them since 2013, so no current Cardinals hitter has faced him more than five times.

Perhaps that will be advantage to the pitcher. We can hope.

Adam Wainwright is now 36 and has been around a while. How long, you ask? He was a September callup with the Cardinals in 2005. Among his teammates was Larry Walker, who was on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot.

Wainwright has one pretty good start (vs. the Brewers) and one bad one (vs. the D-backs) this year. Last year he threw quite well against the Cubs: 1.83 ERA, 0.864 WHIP, no homers in three starts. But in 2016, Cubs hitters crushed him: 7.98 ERA, 1.909 WHIP in three starts. Addison Russell is the Cub who likes to hit him best: 6-for-15 (.400) with three doubles.

Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

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The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.