Game Seventy-Two: Cubs (39-32) vs. Cardinals (48-24)
- Game Time – 7:15pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7, MLB Network – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 89, 844
- Location – Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Jake Arrieta (7-5, 3.07/1.09/2.90) vs. John Lackey (6-4, 3.41/1.22/3.42)
Weather permitting … The Cubs open a six-game, two-city road trip with the first of three in St. Louis. After three night games with the Cardinals, the Cubs will spend Monday’s much-needed off day in New York. The series at Citi Field with the Mets begins Tuesday … two of the Cubs oldest and most-disliked rivals on the same trip.
The Cubs enter play tonight looking up in the standings at the best organization in baseball. The Cubs are 8 1/2 games back of St. Louis, in third place in the NL Central. And over the next two weeks will play the Cardinals seven times in 13 games. Gaining ground on the Cardinals through this stretch is the only way the Cubs will stay within range of the goal for this season.
After tonight’s matchup of Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, the Cubs will face Michael Wacha under the lights on Saturday night. The Cubs have not announced a starter for the middle game of the series. Jason Hammel is scheduled to face Carlos Martinez in Sunday night’s finale on the World Wide Leader.
The Cubs are 2-4 in the six games with the Redbirds this season, 1-3 at Busch Stadium. And hopefully, the Cubs’ front office remembered to change their passwords before they were within range of Busch Stadium.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta was lights out last start and picked up the second complete game shutout of his career. Arrieta settled in and pitched a gem against the Twins. Arrieta faced just four over the minimum, did not walk a batter and struck out seven. Arrieta more than bounced back from his rough outing against the Indians with his best start of the season.
Arrieta is 3-1 in his last four starts with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP … eight runs on 21 hits with seven walks and 29 strikeouts in 26 innings. Arrieta is 5-1 in seven road starts with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP and faces the Cardinals for the third time this season.
Jake Arrieta is 1-1 in two starts against the Redbirds with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Arrieta beat the now Dirty Birds on April 8 but was hit pretty hard and lost the game in St. Louis on May 7. Arrieta is 0-1 in two starts at Busch Stadium with a 4.82 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP.
Cardinals Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Jhonny Peralta: 6-for-22 with three doubles and one walk
- Matt Carpenter: 0-for-13 with five walks
- Kolten Wong: 3-for-15
- Jon Jay: 1-for-12 with one walk
- Yadier Molina: 3-for-13
- Jason Heyward: 5-for-12 with one double
- Peter Bourjos: 2-for-8 with one double, one triple and three walks
- Mark Reynolds: 2-for-6
- John Lackey: 1-for-4 with one double
- Greg Garcia: 0-for-2
John Lackey is one of the many reasons the Cardinals just keep winning ballgames. And the contract that Theo Epstein signed him to is paying big dividends for the Cardinals. Lackey has been very good this season and is coming off two excellent outings against a pair of struggling teams.
Lackey was an unbelievable 2-2 in six starts in May with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. And over his last four starts, 3-1 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.
John Lackey has been just about untouchable at Busch Stadium. Lackey is 5-1 in seven starts with a 1.81 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Lackey already dominated Jake Arrieta and the Cubs in St. Louis this season. Tonight is Lackey’s second start of the year against the Cubs.
For his career, Lackey is 2-1 in four starts versus the Cubs with a 2.28 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against John Lackey
- Chris Coghlan: 7-for-12 with one double
- Miguel Montero: 3-for-9 with two doubles
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-6 with one walk
- Starlin Castro: 2-for-6
- Jake Arrieta: 1-for-4 with one triple
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-3 with one walk
- Chris Denorfia: 0-for-3 with one walk
- Jonathan Herrera: 1-for-4
- David Ross: 1-for-3
- Addison Russell: 1-for-3
- Matt Szczur: 0-for-3
- Travis Wood: 0-for-1
- Dexter Fowler: 0-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …