News
Cubs embark to face fortified Cards
Chicago (75-70) at St. Louis (85-62), 7:15 p.m. CT
By Andrew Simon / MLB.com
09/17/09 6:17 PM ET
CHICAGO -- The last time the Cubs played the Cardinals, they split a July 12 doubleheader at Wrigley Field to remain 3 1/2 games back of their archrivals in the National League Central. Things have changed. The Cardinals have become a different team, and the NL Central has become a different race -- one that is nearly over. St. Louis has an nine-game advantage as the teams start a three-game series in St. Louis on Friday. When the clubs last met, the Cardinals had recently acquired Mark DeRosa, but had not yet picked up Matt Holliday, Julio Lugo or John Smoltz. Holliday in particular has been a boon to St. Louis' playoff chances, hitting around .350 with an on-base plus slugging percentage of well over 1.000 since he was acquired from Oakland. "Remember, when you look at the Cardinals, they added some real nice pieces around the middle of July to the first of August," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you add the pieces they have, it becomes a little bit of a different baseball team. They used that springboard to basically overpower the division." The Cardinals will send Smoltz to the mound in the first game of the series and follow with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, two top Cy Young Award candidates. The Cubs will counter with Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano."It's going to be a good pitching matchup, and we look forward to it," shortstop Ryan Theriot said. "It'll be a lot of fun."
The Cardinals, at 8-5, are the only team in the division with a winning record against the Cubs. Overall, Chicago is 19-35 against teams with winning records, including 6-20 on the road.
The Cubs' 10-game road trip also includes a four-game set against the Giants, who are contending for the NL Wild Card. In between St. Louis and San Francisco, the team will stop in Milwaukee. Once the trip is over, the Cubs will return to Chicago for a seven-game set to close out the year. "It's going to be a tough trip for us, and hopefully we win our share of games and come back here and finish our season," Piniella said. Pitching matchupCHC: LHP Ted Lilly (12-8, 3.05 ERA)
In Lilly's last start, Sunday against the Reds, he won his 44th game since joining the Cubs in 2007, tying him with Milt Pappas for the most victories in a player's first three seasons with Chicago since 1969. Since coming off the disabled list Aug. 17, Lilly has compiled a 1.37 ERA in six starts, striking out 30 and walking eight. But the All-Star lefty has not been as effective on the road this season, with an ERA about three runs higher than his 1.60 mark at Wrigley Field. He has a 2.40 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals. STL: RHP John Smoltz (3-6, 6.53 ERA)
Smoltz is returning from a mild bout of right shoulder tendinitis, but he insists it's nothing serious at all. He started feeling better almost immediately after getting a shot in the area, and he's eager to get back on the mound. For a renowned big-game pitcher, Friday will represent the biggest game since he joined the Cardinals. His team is slumping and facing its biggest rival. Tidbits
Casey Coleman, the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Year, will take the mound for Double-A Tennessee on Friday as the Smokies try to stave off elimination in the Southern League finals. Tennessee trails Jacksonville, 2-0, in the best-of-five series but has the next two games at home. ... Piniella said the Cubs wanted to get a look at rookie Esmailin Caridad in a spot start, but instead have needed him in the bullpen. Caridad has filled the middle-relief role usually occupied by Angel Guzman, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 8 because of a minor triceps injury. ... The Cubs rested Aramis Ramirez on Thursday against the Brewers and gave Jeff Baker the start at third base. Tickets
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• WGN 720 Up next
• Saturday: Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 10-8, 3.84) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 16-4, 2.45), 3:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 8-6, 3.94) at Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, 18-8, 2.59), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny, 5-2, 4.86) at Brewers (Braden Looper, 13-6, 4.89), 7:05 p.m. CT
Andrew Simon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
