Cardinals at Cubs
For all that has gone right for the St. Louis Cardinals so far this season, the club could still use a return to form from Adam Wainwright. The former Cy Young contender will get his fourth chance to notch a win in the middle of a three-game set at the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The Cardinals have gotten strong efforts from the rest of the staff and the offense has yet to miss a beat without Albert Pujols, but the Cubs managed to steal one in Monday’s opener.
Former Cardinal Joe Mather got to St. Louis closer Jason Motte for a walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth on Monday. That marked the second win in the last nine games for Chicago, which has topped four runs only once in that span. Alfonso Soriano is 1-for-23 over the last six games and David DeJesus, Jeff Baker and Reed Johnson are slumping as well. The Cardinals are still without Lance Berkman but expect to have Jon Jay back soon.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSMW (St. Louis), CSN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (0-3, 9.88 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 5.71 ERA)
Wainwright has exactly half of St. Louis’ losses and has yet to make it into the sixth inning in three outings. The veteran right-hander has 14 strikeouts in 13 2/3 total frames but has also yielded five home runs. He was lit up for eight runs and seven hits in three innings against the Cubs on Apr. 13, surrendering homers to Ian Stewart and Bryan LaHair.
Samardzija got the win over Wainwright in that Apr. 13 game despite allowing five runs and 10 hits in five innings. The 27-year old was even worse last time out, getting lit up for five runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings at Miami last week.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Jay had an MRI on his shoulder that revealed no structural damage. He was available as a pinch runner in the series opener and will be worked back into the lineup slowly.
2. Matt Holliday doubled on Monday - his sixth extra-base hit in 74 at-bats. He is now hitting .216.
3. Motte issued a pair of walks on Monday after surrendering one free pass in his first six appearances.