Series Preview: Cardinals at Cubs, September 28 – September 30, 2018

I mean, really? Did it really come down to this? Are the St. Louis Cardinals really the team standing in the Cubs’ way of the postseason?

Really?

The schedule and reality of the NL Central feels like some sort of cruel poetic justice. Watching the Cardinals drop three straight at home to the Brewers before coming to Wrigley to face the Cubs right when they need a win most … it’s unreal. This weekend will either be absolutely amazing or downright infuriating.

There are only three games left and we don’t know if the Cubs will play a one-game Wild Card, a one-game playoff to decide the division, and then possibly a one-game Wild Card, or if they’ll head straight to the NLDS with their third consecutive NL Central crown. There’s not usually this much uncertainty heading into the final series.

We’re Going Streaking

The Chicago Cubs (93-66) rallied back after two early loses to the Pirates by winning the final two games of the series. They have a 1.0-game lead in the NL Central, a Magic Number of 3, and three games to go.

The St. Louis Cardinals (87-72) are a bunch of idiots and were just swept by the Brewers at home. Those three loses dropped them back in the Wild Card race and helped eliminate them from contention in the NL Central. More to our point, they didn’t help the Cubs reduce their Magic Number because they couldn’t win one single game. Had they won just one game, the Cubs could’ve potentially clinched tonight.

Game Times and Broadcasts Info

Friday, September 28th at 1:20 CT on ABC, ESPN, 670 The Score

Saturday, September 29th at 12:05 CT on FOX, 670 The Score

Sunday, September 30th at 2:20 CT on CSNC, 670 The Score

Chicago Cubs

Probable Pitchers:

Kyle Hendricks (3.49 ERA, 3.77 FIP; 3.79 K/BB)

Cole Hamels (3.87 ERA, 4.56 FIP; 2.86 K/BB)

Mike Montgomery (3.99 ERA, 3.96 FIP; 2.18 K/BB)

Active Depth Chart:

C – Willson Contreras

1B – Anthony Rizzo

2B – Daniel Murphy

3B – Kris Bryant (?)/David Bote

SS – Javy Baez

LF – Kyle Schwarber/Kris Bryant

CF – Ian Happ/Albert Almora

RF – Ben Zobrist/Kris Bryant/Jason Heyward

Unavailable: Yu Darvish, Justin Hancock, Brandon Morrow, Drew Smyly, Mark Zagunis, Addison Russell, Pedro Strop (?).

St. Louis Cardinals

Probable Pitchers:

Adam Wainwright (4.08 ERA, 4.37 FIP; 4.50 K/BB)

Miles Mikolas (2.94 ERA, 3.34 FIP; 4.83 K/BB)

Jack Flaherty (3.16 ERA, 3.85 FIP; 3.20 K/BB)

Active Depth Chart:

C – Yadier Molina

1B – Matt Carpenter

2B – Kolton Wong

3B – Jedd Gyorko

SS – Paul DeJong

LF – Marcell Ozuna

CF – Harrison Bader

RF – Jose Martinez

Unavailable: *Dexter Fowler, Luke Gregerson, Alex Reyes, Michael Wacha

Keep An Eye Out For …

Cubs Pitcher: Kyle Hendricks is going this afternoon and, in my opinion, he’s the Cubs’ best shot at winning this weekend. He’s got the best matchup and has been locked in lately. He needs to get the Cubs off to a good start, because if he loses today, their backs will be way up against the wall.

Cubs Player: Anthony Rizzo. Forget the stats – for a weekend like this, they just don’t matter. I just want to see Rizzo put this team on his back this weekend and carry them into the postseason.

Cardinals Pitcher: Miles Mikolas is going to be tough tomorrow. He’s been good all season, but he’s been particularly locked in lately. And since the beginning of August, he’s got 49 strikeouts to just 6 walks.

Cardinals Player: Jose Martinez has been the hot bat over the past two weeks, slashing .342/.390/.553 (156 wRC+), with a homer and five doubles, but only 3 RBI. Hopefully, the Cubs don’t give him any more chances to pad his stats before the end of the season and walk into the NLDS with the Cardinals in their dust.

*I’m still sad to see Dexter Fowler on the disabled list, but at least he won’t be spoiling the Cubs’ weekend.