The Chicago Cubs wrap up a three-game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals on Thursday. The long-time rivals are heading in opposite directions this season as the Cubs traded off parts at the Trade Deadline while the Cardinals added pieces as they attempt to make a run at the NL Central Division title. Wednesday night's game was rained out so this will be the nightcap of a day/night doubleheader on Thursday. The pitching matchup in the nightcap on Thursday night will feature one of the Cardinals newest acquisitions, lefty Jose Quintana (3-5, 3.50). The Cubs have not yet named a starter for the second game but it will presumably be Wednesday's scheduled starter Justin Steele (4-7, 3.86). First pitch is scheduled for 745pm EST.
While the Cubs didn't trade off their biggest asset, hanging onto catcher Willson Contreras, the Cubs moved some bullpen parts and made moved for the future and not the present team. In the midst of a rebuild, the Cubs will do battle with long-time foe and rival St. Louis on Thursday to close out this series. The Cubs were shut out 6-0 in the series opener on Tuesday, the second-straight game that the Cubbies were held scoreless. With Wednesday night's game rained out, the Cubs will try to take the series by sweeping a doubleheader on Thursday.
Final: Cardinals 6, Cubs 0. pic.twitter.com/Ex1dFz7taW
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 3, 2022
It should be an interesting offseason for the Cubs as the team's front office decides how to move forward with the organization. They fielded calls for veterans Contreras and Ian Happ but ultimately decided not to pull the trigger on any deals involving the two. Contreras remains one of the best hitting catchers in baseball but his skills behind the plate are less than average and he may find himself as a future first baseman or DH, which may have hurt his trade value. The Cubs will need to develop a solid group of young position players as they did in the 2010s that resulted in a world championship and several playoff appearances. The Cubs have not yet named a pitcher for the second game of the doubleheader and will be likely be lefty Justin Steele. Steele has five quality starts in his 19 turns this season. In July, Steele went 1-2 in four starts with an ERA of 2.11. He has faced the Cardinals once this season and went seven innings while allowing seven hits and just one earned run in a no-decision.