St. Louis Cardinals: Time to Capitalize against Chicago

Apr 17, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; A general view of Busch Stadium as the Cincinnati Reds play the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning. The Cardinals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; A general view of Busch Stadium as the Cincinnati Reds play the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning. The Cardinals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Chicago Cubs to Busch Stadium for the second time in 2016 Monday night. The Cubs are reeling a bit, having lost three of their past four series’.

The St. Louis Cardinals couldn’t get a series win against the Diamondbacks in St. Louis over the weekend. After dropping two of three, the Cardinals’ record dropped to 23-21 and 12-13 at home on the season.

The Cardinals committed an error in each game of the series. They got another very good start from Mike Leake, sandwiched between two ugly ones from Carlos Martinez and Jaime Garcia.

It was another roller coaster series for the Redbirds. Nothing was particularly encouraging about Friday and Sunday nights, other than the ninth inning comeback effort in game one of the series.

Saturday was equally encouraging, considering what Leake did. But still, the Cardinals lost two of three and sit in third place in the Central as we approach the end of the second month of baseball.

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Yet, even with the struggles against Arizona and middling overall record, the Cardinals have a big opportunity to make a move in the division over the next couple of days.

At 7.0 games back from Chicago, again, this series could be a big step in the right direction, or a discouraging stumble towards mediocrity.

The Cardinals could find themselves within striking distance of Chicago in the Central with a series win or sweep. Likewise, they could find themselves back near a double-digit hole in the loss column if things don’t go well.

The time is now to strike against Chicago. After peaking at 25-6 back on May 10, the Cubs are just 4-7 since, failing to score at least three runs in five of those games.

Everything is going to key on starting pitching (as usual). The Cards will have to deal with Chicago’s three best arms in John Lackey, Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta. That trio has won 17 of their 20 decisions on the season.

Adam Wainwright is going to be looking to build off of his best start of the year last Wednesday against Colorado, while Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez will look to get things on track following shaky outings.

The matchups will go Wainwright/Lackey on Monday, followed by Wacha/Hammel, and finishing with Martinez/Arrieta on Wednesday afternoon.

The Cubs may be without Jason Heyward in his second trip back to St. Louis. He’s dealing with soreness in his ribs following a collision with the outfield wall on a diving play on Saturday in San Francisco.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals: Peralta Searching for his swing in Peoria

All three matchups can be seen on Fox Sports Midwest and heard on KMOX 1120 in St. Louis. Tuesday night’s game will be a nationally televised ESPN contest.

Schedule