Series Preview: Cards at Cubs with a 1920’s celebration

Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals (15-14) will visit Wrigley Field for the first time this season for a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs (9-17) starting this afternoon. It will be the second decade-themed week during the 100th Anniversary celebration of Wrigley Field – the Cubs will celebrate the decade of the 1920’s over the next five days, including the two-game set with the White Sox early next week.

Both teams are 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Cubs are coming off a split of a two-game set with the Reds in Cincinnati, while the Cards lost two extra inning games at home to the Brewers earlier this week.

Today’s game will feature Travis Wood (1-3, 3.52) facing off with Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (5-1, 1.20). Football fans in attendance will get their pallet quenched with a Red Grange bobblehead. Grange was a running back with the University of Illinois and ran for three touchdowns against Northwestern at Wrigley Field in 1923. First pitch is 1:20 pm CST.

Tomorrow marks the much anticipated season debut of Cubs starter Jake Arrieta, who’s first start was pushed back by mother nature in Cincinnati. The Cards will counter with Michael Wacha (2-2, 2.48). The first 10,000 fans age 21-and-over will receive a Cubs Fedora Hat presented by Budweiser. First pitch will be at 12:05 pm CST.

Sunday’s game will be ESPN’s nationally televised “Game of the Week” – with a couple of four-game winners matching up. Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.08) will go for the Cubs, Lance Lynn (4-1, 3.60) will go for the Cards. It will be throwback uniform night, as well. The Cubs will sport uniforms from the 1929 pennant-winning season and the Cardinals will wear a 1929-inspired uniform for the game that starts at 7:05 pm CST. ESPN announcers Dan Shulman and John Kruk will broadcast the game from the right field bleachers. The two will sing the seventh-inning stretch that evening, as well.

Starlin Castro has continued to play well, going 9-for-20 on the Cubs’ last road trip. Jason Hammel will start with a couple extra days of rest and is coming off a seven inning outing where he gave up only three hits in a 4-0 win in Milwaukee over the first-place Brewers. Mike Olt is ice-cold and his average is down to .164 and will not get the start today – it will be Luis Valbuena at third base for the Cubs.

Today’s game will be televised on ComCast SportsNet and MLB Network, Saturday will be on FOX, and Sunday on ESPN. All three games will be broadcast on WGN Radio AM 720.