A pair of bitter NL Central rivals continue an early week set on the diamond on the north side of the Windy City. The St. Louis Cardinals are on the road as they play the second game of a doubleheader and the third game of a five-game set with the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night. St. Louis comes in off a three-game road sweep of Arizona as they picked up a 6-4 win Sunday afternoon. Chicago missed a chance at a sweep at home of Milwaukee as they were beaten 5-2 in the series finale Sunday. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the series Monday night, not to mention the opening game of the doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
St. Louis ran their win streak to seven as they rallied past Arizona on the road Sunday to sweep that series. The Cardinals entered Monday with a solid five-game lead on the Brewers in the race for the top spot in the NL Central. Brendan Donovan (run) and Nolan Arenado (three RBI) each had two hits to pace St. Louis in the victory Sunday. Lars Nootbaar hit his seventh homer of the season leading off the game for the Cardinals. Jose Quintana didn’t factor in the decision as he threw 2.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and no strikeouts before getting the hook. Jake Woodford (2-0) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit with no walks or strikeouts. Giovanny Gallegos fanned one in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 12th save of the year.
The Cardinals haven’t officially announced a starter here but Oliver Marmol has state d that he’s leaning toward Jake Woodford getting the call for his 14th appearance and first start of the year. He is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.183 WHIP, eight walks and 13 strikeouts over 23.2 innings of work on the year. Woodford earned the win in his last outing, which came in relief against Arizona Sunday. He threw 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks or strikeouts as the Cardinals picked up a 6-4 win. This marks Woodford’s ninth career appearance and fourth start against the Cubs. He is 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, five walks and 14 strikeouts over 25 innings of work against them. Woodford has no record with a 5.27 ERA, a 1.463 WHIP, three walks and four strikeouts over 13.2 innings in five career appearances, one start, at Wrigley Field.