Series Preview: Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

Introduction

The Chicago Cubs’ historic rivalry against the St. Louis Cardinals is set to be renewed tonight, marking the beginning of a four-game series between the two clubs at Busch Stadium. Heading into Monday, the two teams have faced each other 2,513 times, with the Cubs holding the all-time series edge, 1273-1,221, according to StatMuse. Lefty Shota Imanaga will rejoin the Cubs next week in St. Louis.

Team Records

The Cubs and Cardinals have had differing fortunes so far this season.

Cubs: 46-31 (21-16 road), 1st NL Central, 5-5 last 10 games (-12)

Cardinals: 42-36 (24-15 home), 3rd NL Central, 6-4 last 10 games (+11)

Pitching Probables

The pitching matchups for the series are as follows:

Monday: RHP Ben Brown (4-5, 5.57 ERA) vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore (4-6, 4.08 ERA)

Tuesday: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (3-6, 3.54 ERA)

Wednesday: LHP Matthew Boyd (6-3, 2.84 ERA) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (5-3, 4.48 ERA)

Thursday: RHP Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA)

Hitting Leaders

The key hitters to watch out for in the series are:

Batting Average: Kyle Tucker (.285), Brendan Donovan (.308)

Home Runs: Pete Crow-Armstrong (21), Nolan Arenado (10)

Runs Batted In: Seiya Suzuki (64), Willson Contreras (50)

Pitching Leaders

The top pitchers in the series are:

ERA: Matthew Boyd (2.84), Erick Fedde (3.54)

Wins: Jameson Taillon (7), Sonny Gray (7)

Strikeouts: Ben Brown (88), Sonny Gray (90)

Key Stats

Some key statistics to note ahead of the series:

The North Siders have gone 25-7 in games when they hit at least two home runs.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker continue to pace the Cubs’ offense.

Amid a historic breakout season for Chicago, Crow-Armstrong has been red hot over his last five games, batting .294/.400/.882 with 3 home runs and a double during that span. Tucker is 12 for 36 with four doubles, two home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games.

St. Louis has the fourth-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .327.
Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera are two notable members of the Cardinal lineup performing well of late, though Herrera will likely miss the series with a minor hamstring injury. Burleson is hitting .349/.370/.547 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI in his last 22 games, and has posted a 1.162 OPS over his last six. In 42 games this season, Herrera is hitting .320/.392/.533 with 8 home runs and 36 RBI.

Conclusion

The series between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to gain an advantage in the NL Central. The Cubs will be looking to continue their strong form, while the Cardinals will be seeking to close the gap at the top of the division.

FAQs

Q: What is the all-time series record between the Cubs and Cardinals?
A: The Cubs hold the all-time series edge, 1273-1,221.
Q: Who are the key hitters to watch out for in the series?
A: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado are some of the key hitters to watch out for.
Q: What is the pitching matchup for Monday’s game?
A: RHP Ben Brown (4-5, 5.57 ERA) vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore (4-6, 4.08 ERA)