Cubs at Cardinals
After facing the steamrolling Los Angeles Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals take a step down in class for Friday’s series opener against the visiting Chicago Cubs. St. Louis, which lost three of four against the Dodgers, stands four games back of Pittsburgh in the National League Central and three games ahead of Cincinnati for the first NL wild card spot. The Cubs are 2-9 over their last 11 games after being routed 12-1 by Philadelphia on Thursday.
The Cardinals were forced to shuffle their starting rotation after Shelby Miller left Wednesday’s game in the first inning due to a right elbow contusion. After Jake Westbrook was called on to throw 4 2/3 innings in relief, rookie Carlos Martinez was promoted from Triple-A Memphis to start Thursday. Top prospect Michael Wacha will be recalled to start on Saturday, with Joe Kelly set to go in Sunday’s series finale.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Chris Rusin (1-1, 3.98 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (13-5, 3.78)
Rusin is receiving an extended audition for next year’s rotation after taking over for Matt Garza, who was traded to Texas last month. He threw seven shutout innings against San Francisco on July 27 before yielding four runs over five innings on Aug. 1 against the Dodgers. The 26-year-old lefty is making his first career appearance against St. Louis.
Lynn turned in his longest outing of the season last Sunday against the Reds, allowing two runs while striking out a season-high 11 batters over eight innings. The 26-year-old has recorded three straight quality starts while allowing a total of four runs over that stretch. Anthony Rizzo is 3-for-13 with a homer against Lynn, who has a 4.67 ERA in three starts against the Cubs this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs have collected at least one extra-base hit in 31 consecutive games.
2. Miller’s X-rays on his right elbow were negative and the rookie right-hander doesn’t expect to miss a start.
3. Chicago placed OF Thomas Neal (shoulder) and RHP Matt Guerrier (elbow) on the disabled list and recalled RHP Eduardo Sanchez and C J.C. Boscan from Triple-A Iowa.