The Cubs and Cardinals had two postponements during their series at Wrigley Field in April, managed to make one of them up, and had the other one rescheduled for July. Neither of the games played occurred in anything like you’d call real baseball weather.
It should be better this weekend in St. Louis, with warm temperatures and only a slight chance of storms.
The Cubs have played one of the tougher schedules so far this season. They’ve played 23 games against teams currently over .500, only five against clubs currently under .500. Oddly, they’re 2-3 against the losing teams, 14-9 against the winning ballclubs. The latter includes the split with the Cardinals last month at Wrigley.
Fun fact
In 2017, the Cubs were 78-65 in games not involving the Cardinals. In 2017, the Cardinals were 78-65 in games not involving the Cubs.
The 14-5 record the Cubs had against St. Louis last year was a huge factor, then, in the Cubs winning the N.L. Central and the Cardinals missing the postseason.
May it be so again in 2018.
Pitching matchups
Friday: Jose Quintana, LHP (3-1, 5.74 ERA, 1.425 WHIP, 4.24 FIP) vs. Miles Mikolas, RHP (3-0, 3.27 ERA, 0.970 WHIP, 3.76 FIP)
Saturday: Tyler Chatwood, RHP (2-3, 2.83 ERA, 1.465 WHIP, 4.03 FIP) vs. Luke Weaver, RHP (2-2, 5.17 ERA, 1.372 WHIP, 3.51 FIP)
Sunday: Jon Lester, LHP (2-1, 2.73 ERA, 1.242 WHIP, 4.55 FIP) vs. Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.62 ERA, 1.392 WHIP, 3.84 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Friday: 7:15 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago
Saturday: 1:15 p.m. CT, ABC7 Chicago
Sunday: 7:05 p.m. CT, ESPN
Prediction
The Cardinals have won 10 of their last 15 — but of those 10 wins, six have been against teams with losing records (Reds, White Sox). The Cardinals are 9-0 this year against teams under .500, 8-12 against teams with winning records.
Thus I think the Cubs can take two of three here.
Up next
The Cubs return to Wrigley Field Monday evening to begin a three-game series against the Marlins.
Poll
How many games will the Cubs win against the Cardinals?
This poll is closed
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23%
3
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46%
2
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19%
1
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10%
0