Justin Steele, one of this season’s toughest pitchers, leads the Chicago Cubs (36-38) into London Stadium on Saturday as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals (31-44) for the opener of a two-game series.
The Cubs are coming off a three-game sweep of the Pirates, taking the finale 8-3 on Wednesday at PNC Park. Nico Hoerner was 2 for 5 with a home run and a triple. He scored two runs and drove in three.
The Cardinals are back home for an eight-game homestand after returning from a successful six-game road trip (4-2). They won two of three against the Nationals in their last series, dropping the finale 3-0 on Wednesday at Nationals Park. Lars Nootbaar went 2 for 4 with a double.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Cardinals have won two of three in the season series between the NL Central rivals, although they suffered a 10-4 defeat in their last meeting on May 10 at Wrigley Field. Starter Steele got the win, giving up three runs on seven hits over six innings.
ON THE MOUND
Steele (7-2, 2.71 ERA) is slated to get the start for Chicago. The southpaw allowed two runs over five innings in his last start, a 3-2 road win over the Orioles on June 17. He was credited with the win, giving up five hits while striking out four and walking one.
Steele has made one previous start against the Cardinals this season, a 10-4 home victory on May 10. He surrendered three runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out three and walking three. Right-hander Adam Wainwright (3-1, 5.56 ERA) takes the mound for St. Louis.
It’s his first appearance of the season against the Cubs. Wainwright made four appearances against the Cubs in 2022, all starts, striking out nine and walking eight over 25 innings (2-1, 2.88).
In his last start on June 17, Wainwright got the win on the road against the Mets. He threw 6.1 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking two in the 5-3 victory.
AT THE PLATE
The Chicago offense is averaging 4.6 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .247/.329/.399. Ian Happ leads the team in OPS at .794. The center fielder is slashing .265/.386/.408 with five home runs, 35 RBIs, and 28 runs over 73 games.
Against righties like Wainwright this season, the Cubs have a .708 OPS. Happ also is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .826 OPS in 197 at-bats. St. Louis is slashing .250/.324/.425 for the season and averaging 4.6 runs per game.
Paul Goldschmidt leads the team with a .870 OPS. The first baseman has 13 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 48 runs scored with a slash line of .287/.377/.493. St. Louis is averaging 6.0 runs per game in the last five with a higher slash line (.268/.338/.503).
The Cards have a .738 OPS against lefties in 2023. With a .862 OPS over 50 at-bats, Nolan Arenado has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Chicago is on a three-game winning streak away from Wrigley Field, bringing their record to 16-21 in 2023. The Cubs have scored 4.3 runs per game away from home while allowing 4.2 runs.
St. Louis has lost five in a row as the home team. The Cards are 13-21 at home this season, averaging 5.3 runs per game while surrendering 5.3.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Cubs are third in the NL Central, three games behind the division-leading Reds. The Cardinals are fifth in the NL Central, nine games behind the Reds.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Chicago Cubs (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
