Pregame Notes: Cubs look to right reeling ship against Cardinals

May 10, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager

(22) looks on from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Losers of seven of their last ten games, the Chicago Cubs (12-24) are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves as they head into hostile territory to take on the St. Louis Cardinals (19-19) at Busch Stadium.

Chicago has won just a single series this season, and it came against the Cardinals in a matchup at Wrigley Field. That being said, Ricky Renteria’s squad has hit a wall of late, struggling in virtually every manner possible.

Meanwhile, Mike Matheny and his St. Louis ball club are at just .500 – and have not seen the tremendous success they had last year in clutch situations carry over into the new season.

In the series opener, Chicago turns to southpaw Travis Wood (2-4, 4.75 ERA), who is coming off a rough start in which he allowed a season-high eight earned runs in just four innings against the White Sox. That outing alone caused his ERA to jump by a run-and-a-half.

Another lefty will take the hill opposite Wood in the form of Tyler Lyons (0-2, 3.43 ERA). He has made three starts and two relief appearances for St. Louis this season, averaging nine strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Tonight’s game will be broadcast on CSN and ESPN, and per usual, WGN AM 720 will have the call on the radio.

Here are tonight’s starting lineups: