The St. Louis Cardinals have won only one series in July, but they can change that with a victory Saturday. The Cardinals will try to notch a second straight win over the visiting Chicago Cubs when the National League Central rivals continue their three-game series.
The Cardinals, who claimed the series opener 5-2 on Friday to pull within eight games of the first-place Cubs, haven’t won back-to-back games since July 4-5, the first of which clinched their most recent series victory. The Cubs have dropped only one series this month, but their offense has struggled of late, as they’ve scored two or fewer runs in four of their last five games. The Cardinals’ bullpen was able to hold the lead Friday, after undergoing a major shakeup earlier in the day. Right-hander Dakota Hudson was called up, and fellow prospects Daniel Poncedeleon and Austin Gomber also will join the pen after impressive starts in their big-league debuts last week, filling spots vacated when the Cardinals traded right-hander Sam Tuivailala to the Seattle Mariners and designated Greg Holland and Tyler Lyons for assignment.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, NBCS Chicago, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (9-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (10-3, 2.82)
Quintana has won all three of his starts in July after going winless in five outings in June. The 29-year-old limited the Cardinals to two runs over seven innings to earn the win Sunday, posting his third straight quality start and beating the Cardinals for the first time in three meetings this season. Quintana is 4-2 with a 2.77 ERA in seven career starts against St. Louis.
Mikolas has gotten a quick hook from interim manager Mike Shildt in his last two starts, totaling nine innings after going at least six frames in 15 of his previous 18 outings. The 29-year-old held the Cubs to two runs over five frames last time out but didn’t get a decision after Chicago rallied against the bullpen. Mikolas beat the Cubs on May 4 in St. Louis, scattering seven hits over seven scoreless frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs will stick with a five-man rotation with the addition of LHP Cole Hamels, meaning either RHP Tyler Chatwood or LHP Mike Montgomery will be sent to the bullpen.
2. After going 25 games without a home run, Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has gone deep in consecutive contests and is 9-for-14 in his last four games.
3. St. Louis LF Marcell Ozuna leads the team with 29 multi-hit games, including five against the Cubs.