The Chicago Cubs just keep on rolling. After sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in a previous three-game series, Chicago barged into Busch Stadium and administered a 9-0 beating to the St. Louis Cardinals. As for the Cards, they are aiming to end a two-game skid following an ugly loss in Game 1 of this series.
Read on for a detailed preview of this game. You can also click here for an overview of the AL and NL wild card races.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
When: Tuesday, September 8, 2015, 8:15 PMPM ET
Line: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Chicago Cubs
[sc:MLB240banner ]Jason Hammel (7-6, 3.55 ERA) had another forgettable performance in his last start, wherein he gave up four earned runs on seven hits in just five innings of a 7-4 loss to Cincinnati on September 2. Tonight, he’ll get his second chance to notch his first win this month when he faces St. Louis for the third time this season.
Hammel, who is 5-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 12 road starts thus far this year, lasted just one inning against the Cardinals on July 8, pitching a hitless first inning with one strikeout. Hammel experienced tightness in his left hamstring in that game, forcing manager Joe Maddon to pull him out of the game.
More can be gleaned, however, from Hammel’s June 28 start against the Cards, in which he yielded four earned runs on six hits in four innings of a 4-1 loss at Busch Stadium. Hammel enters Game 2 of the series against St. Louis having given up seven runs on 11 hits across 10.0 innings over his previous two starts.
With Hammel looking shaky heading into tonight’s ballgame, the Cubs hard-hitting offense will have to produce early to get the righty’s confidence up. That would be pressure on the likes of Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo. Hopefully for the Cubs, those two will continue to hit well against the Cards’ Michael Wacha. Castro is 8-for-17 (.471) in his career against the Cards’ righty, while Rizzo is 7-for-17 (.412).
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Betting on the St. Louis Cardinals
Having lost its last two games, St. Louis turns to ace Michael Wacha (15-4, 2.69 ERA), who is making his first start of the month later tonight.
Wacha picked up a no-decision in his last time out on the mound, allowing one run (a homer) on six hits within six frames in the Cards’ 5-4 loss in San Francisco last August 28th. Wacha can resume his winning ways in his next start, which happens to be his third start this season against the Cubs.
Wacha, however, had a rough go the last time he faced the North Siders. Wacha allowed five runs on seven hits across six innings of start, albeit in a 6-5 win at Wrigley Field on July 8. In his first start against the Cubs this year, though, Wacha gave up only an earned run on six hits in six innings of work in an 8-1 victory at home.
Wacha has been at his best when pitching at home, as evidenced by his 6-2 record and a 2.43 ERA in 11 starts at Busch Stadium thus far this season. Moreover, the Cards are 3-0 in his last three home starts.
Despite Wacha’s brilliance at home, the Cards will have to pamper the righty with some runs. The offense has been anemic for St. Louis of late, as the team averaged a meager 2.2 runs in the Cards’ past five games.
Facing the Hammel may be a good way for St. Louis’ hitters to break out of their slump, as the likes of Jason Heyward, Yadier Molina, and Jhonny Peralta have all been terrific in the past opposite the Cubs’ righty. Heyward is 9-for-16 (.563) in his career against Hammel, while Molina is 5-for-11 (.455). Peralta, on the other hand, is 9-for-23 (.391) lifetime versus Hammel.
Writer’s Prediction
St. Louis wins, 3-2.
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