On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Cardinals series preview

Since the Cubs and Cardinals just met, you can find out more about them from the series preview from that pre-All-Star set at Wrigley Field.

When the Cubs and Cardinals met for that series at Wrigley a little more than a week ago, they were tied for third place. The teams split a pair and the third game was rained out.

After the All-Star break, both clubs won two of three in a weekend series against a NL West team.

And so they are still tied, one game under .500, and so we have yet another battle for third place in the NL Central ahead of us.

Fun fact

The Cardinals have had only one losing season since 1999. That was in 2007, when they got to within one game of the first-place Cubs and Brewers on September 6, then went 9-16 the rest of the way. The Cubs went 14-9 and won the division.

Probable pitching matchups

Monday: Alec Mills, RHP (4-2, 4.84 ERA, 1.407 WHIP, 4.17 FIP) vs. Jake Woodford, RHP (1-1, 4.62 ERA, 1.461 WHIP, 6.57 FIP)

Tuesday: Trevor Williams, RHP (3-2, 5.51 ERA, 1.627 WHIP, 4.90 FIP) vs. TBD

Wednesday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (12-4, 3.65 ERA, 1.261 WHIP, 4.76 FIP) vs. Adam Wainwright, RHP (7-6, 3.71 ERA, 1.146 WHIP, 4.07 FIP)

Thursday: Adbert Alzolay, RHP (4-9, 4.59 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, 5.02 FIP) vs. Kwang Hyun Kim, LHP (5-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.226 WHIP, 3.78 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Monday: 7:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, ESPN (no blackouts)

Tuesday: 7:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Wednesday: 7:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, ESPN (outside Cubs market territory)

Thursday: 6:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Cardinals market territories)

Prediction

Just a hunch here, nothing more: The Cubs will take three out of four.

Up next

The Cubs return home for a rematch against the Diamondbacks, a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon.