On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Cardinals series preview

There isn’t a whole lot I can tell you about this series that you don’t already know. The Cubs are eliminated from this year’s postseason and the Cardinals are in.

The Cardinals lead the Brewers by one game for the N.L. Central title, so St. Louis’ magic number to clinch the division is three. Thus:

Cardinals sweep: they’re division champs, Brewers are wild card
Cardinals win two of three: they’re division champs if Brewers lose one of three to Rockies
Cardinals win one of three: they’re division champs if Brewers lose two of three to Rockies
Cardinals get swept: they’re division champs if Brewers get swept by Rockies

There are other combinations, obviously, and if the teams wind up tied they would play off the division title Monday at Busch Stadium. The loser of that tiebreaker, if it happens, would go to the wild-card game.

So the Cubs can still have an influence on who wins the division. It would be nice to pay the Cardinals back for that sweep last weekend at Wrigley Field.

Fun fact

Not so much fun for the Cubs here: The last time they won a series in Busch Stadium was June 15-17, 2018, when they took two of three. Since then, the Cubs are 2-7 in St. Louis.

Pitching matchups

Friday: Alec Mills, RHP (1-0, 2.90 ERA, 1.129 WHIP, 4.32 FIP) vs. Dakota Hudson, RHP (16-7, 3.45 ERA, 1.409 WHIP, 5.01 FIP)

Saturday: Cole Hamels, LHP (7-7, 3.92 ERA, 1.416 WHIP, 4.22 FIP) vs. Adam Wainwright, RHP (14-9, 3.98 ERA, 1.392 WHIP, 4.12 FIP)

Sunday: TBD vs. TBD

The Sunday matchup isn’t known at this time. The Cubs haven’t decided what they will do and the Cardinals are holding Jack Flaherty back in case Sunday’s game means something to them. Could be quite an interesting afternoon, especially since temperatures could be in the 90s.

Times & TV channels

Friday: 7:15 p.m., WGN. This is WGN-TV’s final Cubs broadcast after 72 seasons. This game is also on ESPN2 (outside the Cubs market territory, should be available in the Cardinals market territory). ESPN announcers: Dan Shulman, Eduardo Perez and Rick Sutcliffe.

Saturday: 6:15 p.m., Fox-TV (regional — coverage map)

Sunday: 2:15 p.m., ABC7 Chicago

Prediction

I am bowing out of the prediction business for this series, since I’ve been pretty much wrong all year. You make the call.

Up next

The next Cubs game will be at spring training, Saturday, February 22, 2020 against the Athletics at Sloan Park. The 2020 regular season begins Thursday, March 26. The Cubs will be at Miller Park to take on the Brewers that day.