A day after one of their ugliest losses in nearly a decade, the Chicago Cubs get a chance to put it behind them - in fact, they get two chances. The first-place Cubs look to bounce back from an 18-5 drubbing when they host the St. Louis Cardinals for a day-night doubleheader Saturday.
The National League Central rivals have split the first two of the five-game series, as the Cubs rallied to take the opener and St. Louis had its revenge in Friday’s rout. Matt Carpenter continued his hot streak, going 5-for-5 with three homers, two doubles, and seven RBIs, as the Cardinals improved to 2-1 under interim manager Mike Shildt. The lopsided defeat was just the Cubs’ second loss at home since June 20 and their fourth in 17 games overall. The only silver lining for the Cubs is they were able to preserve their bullpen somewhat for Saturday’s doubleheader by using three position players - Tommy La Stella, Victor Caratini, and Ian Happ - to combine for 3 1/3 innings of relief.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Luke Weaver (5-8, 4.72 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 5.04)
Weaver was excellent in his last two starts of the first half, allowing three runs and five hits over 14 innings. The 24-year-old had struggled in his previous five outings, pitching to a 7.71 ERA. Weaver is 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs, who have tagged him for 10 runs in eight innings across two meetings this season.
Chatwood hasn’t won since May 11, posting a 6.41 ERA over 10 starts during the drought. The 28-year-old leads the majors with 73 walks in 84 innings, but he pitched better last time out, allowing three runs over five innings in a no-decision at San Diego. Chatwood is 0-3 with a 6.41 ERA in six games (three starts) against the Cardinals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Carpenter has homered in four consecutive games - the longest streak of his career - and boasts six homers against the Cubs this season.
2. St. Louis CF Tommy Pham went 3-for-5 with three RBIs Friday and is 11-for-29 with eight RBIs and 11 runs against Chicago in 2018.
3. Cubs C Willson Contreras hit his ninth career home run against the Cardinals on Friday, tied for the third-most by a catcher in Cubs history (Gabby Hartnett, 39; Michael Barrett, 12).