Chicago Cubs look to build on momentum in matinee against Cardinals

After an emotional series-opening win over the Cardinals Friday, the Chicago Cubs line up behind Kyle Hendricks looking for a fifth-straight win.

If Friday’s series opener is any indication, this weekend’s Chicago Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals matchup will be full of high-leverage moments. An inning after John Lackey and Willson Contreras were tossed after getting in the face of home plate umpire Jordan Baker, the bats backed them up with a seven-spot. That proved to be the difference in the ballgame.

Chicago (81-66) guaranteed themselves a .500 record in the regular season with the win. Milwaukee also won, meaning they remained three games back of the Cubs. St. Louis, meanwhile, falls four back in the NL Central.

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I hate calling anything a ‘must-win’ game, but this weekend sure has that feel. The club has the opportunity to put the Cardinals six games out in the division. That feels a lot safer than the couple-game lead the team has clung to for a month or so.

The Cubs look for right-hander Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 3.35) to eat some innings after the bullpen carried the load in Friday’s contest. Since returning from the disabled list, he owns a 2.58 earned run average – and has not allowed more than three runs in any of those outings.

Saturday also marks the one-year anniversary of Chicago clinching the Central. Last year, the Cubs rolled to 103 wins en route to their first division crown in nearly a decade. This season, though, looks like it will go down to the wire.

Opposite Hendricks, St. Louis (77-70) sends Michael Wacha (12-7, 3.99) to the mound. He’s been one of the team’s best starters this season – and hopes to turn around the Cardinals’ woes against Chicago.

No Heyward, Willson behind the dish

Next: Heyward not playing Saturday; is this a new trend?

What’s Next

Chicago and St. Louis conclude the three-game set on Sunday with a 1:20 p.m. CT start at Wrigley.

Lance Lynn (11-7, 3.01) starts opposite left-hander Jose Quintana (10-11, 4.25).