Cubs at Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals continue to play their hand close to the vest, but if they can’t make up some ground this weekend, they could become sellers ahead of next week’s non-waiver trade deadline. Meanwhile, the visiting Chicago Cubs hope to use the three-game series to strengthen their hold on the National League Central lead.
The Cardinals sit at the .500 mark after a 3-5 road trip coming out of the All-Star break, culminating with a 7-3 loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday. They’re nine games behind the Cubs but only 4 1/2 back of the Atlanta Braves for the second wild card, so the next few days could help determine their course. Chicago owns the best record in the National League and a three-game lead over Milwaukee but is just 6-7 against the Cardinals this season. The Cubs became the first NL team to reach 60 wins with Thursday’s comeback victory, as they rallied from a 6-1 deficit to beat Arizona 7-6 on back-to-back homers from David Bote and Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the ninth.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (3-3, 3.73 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Luke Weaver (5-9, 4.79)
Montgomery has been one of the Cubs’ most consistent starters since sliding into Yu Darvish’s spot in the rotation in late May. The 29-year-old is 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 10 starts, and he held St. Louis to one run over six innings in a no-decision last time out. Montgomery is 1-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 10 games (one start) against the Cardinals.
Weaver will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to face the Cubs for a second straight outing after giving up three runs in four-plus innings in a loss Saturday. The 24-year-old will try to regain the form he showed in his final two starts before the All-Star break, when he allowed three runs over 14 innings with 14 strikeouts. Weaver is 0-3 with a 10.89 ERA in five career starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs reportedly have agreed to a deal to acquire LHP Cole Hamels from Texas.
2. Rizzo is 19-for-43 with eight RBIs in his last 12 games.
3. Cardinals INF Matt Carpenter is 15-for-45 with eight homers and 18 RBIs against the Cubs this season.