CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Cardinals
The Cubs and Cardinals play 12 games spanning four series this season … Chicago dropped two of three to St. Louis at Wrigley Field May 8-10 and split a two-game set in London June 24-25 before Chicago took three of four at Wrigley last week … this marks the final series between the two clubs … last night’s win has secured Chicago’s first season series win over St. Louis since going 14-5 against the Cardinals in 2017.
GAME SAVER EXTENDS STREAK: Mike Tauchman leapt above the center field wall to take away a potential Alec Burleson walk-off two-run homer and put a bow on last night’s 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals … the win extended Chicago’s winning streak to a season-high seven games, its longest such streak since a seven-gamer last Sept. 25-Oct. 2.
The Cubs, who have won nine of their last 10 games, last had a longer winning streak in 2016, when the team had an 11-game run, July 31-Aug. 12.
Chicago started this season 2-10 in one-run contests through May 21 … including last night’s 3-2 win, however, the Cubs have now won nine of their last 11 one-run games … the club previously won at least nine of 11 one-run affairs Aug. 3-30, 2018 … thanks to Ed Hartig.
RISING TIDES: The Cubs, at 52-51, are above .500 for the first time since sitting 17-16 following a May 6 victory vs. Miami … the team was a season-high 10-games below .500 at 26-36 following a loss at the Angels June 8 … starting June 9, the Cubs are 26-15 and their .634 winning percentage is tied for third-best in the Majors with Philadelphia, surpassed only by Atlanta (27-12/.692) and Cincinnati (28-14/.667).
Ed Hartig notes this is just the third season in franchise history in which the team has found itself at least 10-games under .500 only to once again reach the .500 mark (also 1968 and 1996).
CURRENT EVENTS: The Cubs enter play today sitting 3.5 games back of the final wild card spot and 4.5 games behind division-leading Milwaukee … the Cubs were 8.5 games back of the division lead following play on July 20.
Dating to June 9, the Cubs have scored a major league-best 245 runs and their .267 batting average (378-for-1,416) ranks seventh in the majors (tonight’s opponent, St. Louis, is fourth with a .270 mark).
Today marks the fifth (4-0) of 16-straight gamedays for the Cubs through August 9.
The Cubs are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (+56) … Pittsburgh is at -74, St. Louis -26, Milwaukee -6 and Cincinnati -5.
Following this four-game set the Cubs return home for a seven-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds (4 games starting Monday) and the Atlanta Braves (3 games beginning Friday).
WHAT’S IN THE CARDS: Last night’s victory secured a season series win over the Cardinals for the first time since going 14-5 against them in 2017 … Chicago has won consecutive games in St. Louis in the same series for the first time since closing out the 2021 campaign with victories here on Oct. 2-3.
Dansby Swanson last night delivered a game-tying sac fly … it marked his 10thstraight game with an RBI against St. Louis, the longest such streak against the Cardinals since Jeff Bagwell had a 12-game streak from Sept. 19, 1999-Sept. 20, 2000 … thanks to Cardinals PR.
This series will wrap of a stretch in which the Cubs play the Cardinals eight times in 10 games … Chicago last week took three out of four from St. Louis at Wrigley, dropping the series opener before winning the final three.
FAMILIAR FOE AND CLASS ACT: The Cubs tonight face Adam Wainwright, who will be making his 50th career start (59th appearance) against Chicago … Wainwright will become the 26th pitcher since 1901 to reach 50 career starts against the Cubs, and the last five to reach that mark are some folks named Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, Phil Niekro and Tom Seaver … thanks to Ed Hartig.
Wainwright’s first appearance against the Cubs was a relief outing April 7, 2006, at Wrigley Field … he tossed a scoreless inning facing Jacque Jones, Michael Barrett and Matt Murton.
THIS AND THAT: Nico Hoerner is batting .340 (34-for-100) with runners in scoring
position, the seventh-best mark among N.L. qualifying hitters.
Yan Gomes since July 17 has hit .371 (13for-35) with a 1.029 OPS in 11 games … he doubled in four-straight games through the series opener here in St. Louis.
Adbert Alzolay last night recorded his 12th save in 13 chances this season … in his last 14 outings since June 20, he has issued one walk in 60 batters faced, striking out 19 in that span.
The Cubs infield has turned 37 double plays with runners in scoring position this season, fourth-most in the majors … Washington and San Diego lead with 40 apiece in that situation, followed by Baltimore with 39.
START AT THE TOP: In 14 games since the All-Star break, the Cubs 1-4 hitters are batting .311 (73-for-235) with 26 extra-base hits (11 home runs), 46 RBI, a .380 OBP and a .519 slugging percentage … in the 20 games prior to the break from June 17-July 9, Chicago’s first four hitters in the order were hitting just .197 (64-for-325) with a .262 OBP, a .342 slugging percentage and 2.50 runs scored per game.
BELLI BOMBS AWAY: Cody Bellinger in the month of July leads major league hitters in hits (38), average (.427), total bases (66) and SLG (.742), is second in RBI (24), OBP (.455), and OPS (1.197) and is tied for third in homers (8).
In 34 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion), Bellinger is hitting .372 (48-for-129) with six doubles, eight homers, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored, a .406 OBP and a .605 slugging percentage … that includes a career-high 13-game hitting streak from June 24-July 7.
THAT’S A LOADED STATEMENT: In the team’s 38 games since June 11, the Cubs are batting .486 (18-for-37) with two home runs, five sacrifice flies, six walks, a HBP, 52 RBI and a .510 OBP with the bases loaded … in the team’s previous 37 games from May 1-June 10, the Cubs were hitting .125 (3-for-24) with the sacks packed.
Starting Pitcher – #50 RHP Jameson Taillon (4-6, 5.75)
Last Time Out
Jameson earned his fourth win of the season July 23 vs. St. Louis … is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA (4 ER/19.1 IP) in his last three starts and is 4-3 with a 4.35 ERA (25 ER/51.2 IP) in his last nine starts since June 2 … has allowed three earned runs or fewer in three-straight starts for the first time in 2023 … has walked two or fewer batters in a season-high seven-straight starts and in 15 of his 17 outings this season.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
7/23 STL W, 7-2 5.1 7 1 1 1 6 109-75 7-1, 1 on
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 2-4 6.43 10 10 49.0 65 38 35 12 48
Road 2-2 4.76 7 7 34.0 27 20 18 12 25
AVG vs. LHB: .287 (48-for-167) / AVG vs. RHB: .268 (44-for-164)
Jameson will make his 18th start of the season, eighth on the road and third first vs. the Cardinals in 2023 … is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA (4 ER/19.1 IP) in his last three starts since July 7 and since June 2, is 4-3 with a 4.35 ERA (25 ER/51.2 IP) in nine starts after beginning the season 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA (28 ER/31.1 IP) in his first eight outings … has pitched to a 6.43 ERA (35 ER/49.0 IP) in 10 starts at Wrigley Field, compared to a 4.76 ERA (18 ER/34.0 IP) in seven starts on the road … has walked 24 batters, tied for the fourth-lowest mark among N.L. starters (min. 17 GS) … has walked two or fewer in 15 of his 17 starts this season.
Tossed 8.0, one-hit, scoreless innings in a 3-0 win July 7 at Yankee Stadium … was the first pitcher with at least 8.0 innings and one or fewer hits allowed on the road at Yankee Stadium since Baltimore’s Daniel Cabrera did so in 2006 … was also the first former Yankee to go a least 8.0 frames and allow no more than one hit in a game at Yankee Stadium (old or new).
Made his first quality start as a Cub June 13 vs. Pittsburgh (3 ER/6.0 IP).
Earned his first win as a Cub June 2 in San Diego (1 ER/5.2 IP) … had previously gone eight-straight starts without a win, the third time in his career that he had failed to win in at least eight-straight starts in the same season (last 9 G, April 14-May 27, 2018).
Walked two or fewer batters in 16-straight starts from Aug. 14, 2022-May 9, 2023 … at the time, marked the fifth-longest active streak among major league starting pitchers.
Began his stint on the 15-day injured list April 20 (retroactive to April 17) with a left groin strain … was activated on May 4.
Went 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA (8 ER/18.1 IP) with 23 strikeouts, compared to no walks, during Spring Training … was the only pitcher in the Cactus League with at least 10.0 IP to not walk a batter.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue their longest homestand (10 games/11 days) of the season tonight with the third of four games against the Chicago Cubs – the Northsiders lone visit of the season to Busch Stadium…the Cardinals dropped their 5th-straight game to the Cubs last night, their longest losing skid against Chicago since a 5-game slide in 2021…the Cubs clinched the 2023 season series with last night’s win, their first since 2017 (14-5)…St. Louis hosts the Cubs (July 27-30), Minnesota Twins (Aug. 1-3), and Colorado Rockies (Aug. 4-6) during the current homestand.
FLIGHT PATTERN: St. Louis enters today tied for 4th place in the NL Central, 11.5 games behind 1st place Milwaukee and 10.5 games back in the NL Wild Card chase … St. Louis has spent 82 of 118 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19, May 29-July 7 & July 28) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1995 when they were 42-63 (.400) after 105 games … With 57 games remaining, the Cardinals need to go 35-22 (.614) the remainder of the season to finish at .500.
WALKING IN MEMPHIS: Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman begins an injury rehabilitation assignment with Memphis (AAA) tonight as they take on the Iowa Cubs at Autozone Park. Edman is expected to play shortstop tonight and an outfield position tomorrow. BULLPEN ACTION: Also on the mend for the Cardinals and throwing bullpens today while recovering from injuries are RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Jake Woodford and RHP Wilking Rodríguez, the Cardinals Rule 5 Draft Pick from the New York Yankees this past December.
DOUBLE STUFF: Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar hit a pair of home runs in his first two plate appearances last night giving him his second career multihome run game (both against the Cubs; last, 9/24/21-G1 at CHI). The Cardinals have booked three straight games (Nolan Gorman at ARI on Wed.; Andrew Knizner vs. CHI on Thu. & Lars Nootbaar last night) featuring a player hitting multiple home runs tying the franchise record. It was most recently accomplished in 2018 when Marcell Ozuna (9/4/18) hit a pair at Washington, followed by Matt Adams (9/5/18) at Washington and then Ozuna again at Detroit (9/7/18). The last time three different Cardinals pulled off the feat before last night was 2004 when Albert Pujols (4/8/04 vs. MIL), Reggie Sanders (4/9/04 at ARI) and Scott Rolen (4/10/04 at ARI) accomplished the feat. The franchise has never had four straight games featuring a player hitting multiple home runs.
LEADING MAN: With Lars Nootbaar’s lead-off home run last night, he now has four lead-off home runs in 2023 and five for his career. It’s the most lead-off home runs in a single-season by a Cardinal since Matt Carpenter set the franchise record with eight in 2018. His four lead-off rockets ranks T-4th in MLB this season behind Mookie Betts (10, LAD), Kyle Schwarber (6, PHI) and Marcus Semien (5, TEX).
50 FOR 50: Tonight’s starting pitcher Adam Wainwright will make the final start of his storied career against the rival Chicago Cubs and it will be his 50th career start (59th appearance) against the Cubs, the only opponent in which he has 50+ starts. He will pass Bob Forsch, who started 49 games against the North Siders, and trail only Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (53) for starts by Cardinals pitchers against the Cubs. Wainwright’s 59 appearances and 50 starts vs. Chicago are his most against any MLB opponent …
20-GAME WINNER!: Wainwright is looking to win his 20th career win against the Cubs, joining fellow Redbirds Harry Brecheen (31), Bob Gibson (28), Bob Forsch (21), Max Lanier (20) and Slim Sallee (20). Ironically, the two seasons in which Wainwright was a 20-game winner, his 20th win was against the Cubs both times (9/24/2010 at Wrigley Field & 9/22/2014 at Wrigley Field).
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR: Last night, the Cardinals lost their 21st one-run game of the season, their most since dropping 22 one-run decisions in 2019. The 21 losses (9-21) in one-run games leads the National League and 2nd in all of MLB behind the Oakland Athletics with 22. The last time the Cardinals won a one-run contest was July 9 at Chicago White Sox (4-3, 10 innings), and have not won in which the run was not scored in their final at-bat since a 1-0 win at Texas on June 7, when Alec Burleson hit a solo home run in the 8th inning.
TASTE OF CHICAGO: The Cardinals and Cubs will have squared off in eight of 11 games between July 20-30 … The last time the Redbirds played the same opponent 8+ times over an 11-game span was also against the Cubbies (July 19-22, 2018 at Wrigley Field & July 27-29, 2018 at Busch Stadium). – Elias
- Beginning with the London Series and leading into the MLB trade deadline (June 24-July 30), 20-of-32 Cardinals games are against teams from the Windy City (10-Cubs, 3-White Sox) or Miami Marlins (7).
- This weekend’s series marks the latest the Cubs have played their first games in St. Louis since Aug. 13-15, 2010.
- Prior to 2023, the earliest St. Louis and the Cubs concluded their season series before August 1 was in 2004 (April 30-July 20).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP ADAM WAINWRIGHT (3-4, 7.31)
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Makes his 13th start of the season & 470th career appearance (403rd career start).
- Facing the Cubs for the 2nd time this season (lost 9-1 at London Stadium on June 24). It’s his 50th career start against Chicago & needs one win for 20 career vs. Cubs.
- Returned to action on Mon. (7/24) at ARI in his first start since July 4. Had been on the 15-day I.L. with right shoulder strain since July 5, missing 14 games.
- Gave the team 5.0 solid innings at ARI, and put team in line for win, departing with a 5-2 lead. It was his 402nd career start, passing Bob Forsch (401) for sole possession of 2nd all-time among Cardinals pitchers behind only Bob Gibson (482).
- Wainwright is one of 13 pitchers (two Cardinals) in MLB history to make 400 or more career starts exclusively with one organization. Clayton Kershaw (414) joins Wainwright as the two active. Bob Gibson ranks 6th, while Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators leads at 666.
- Is two wins shy of 200 career and 12 wins from 210 (T-2nd all-time Cardinals history with Jesse Haines).
- At age 41, Waino is one of three active players age 40+ with Rich Hill (43) and Miguel Cabrera (40). Adam turns age 42 on August 30.
- Pitched 5.0+ innings in his first eight starts of the season, while departing with the lead in five outings.
- Missed the first 33 games of the season due to a groin injury he suffered while working out during the WBC Finals. Made two injury rehab starts for Springfield (AA) and one for Memphis (AAA).
BUSCH STADIUM III (2006-present)
- Needs one Home win to pass Jesse Haines (107) for 2nd all-time among Cardinals.
- Has made 209 career starts at Busch Stadium III, 19th-most at a single stadium in MLB history. Jack Morris (210 at Tiger Stadium) ranks 18th.
- Has 107 career regular-season wins at Busch Stadium III, tied with Wilbur Cooper (107 at Forbes Field) for 22nd-most wins at a single stadium.
- Is one of 22 pitchers in MLB history to hold a stadium’s record for both appearances (240) and starts (209). Joins Bob Forsch (233 app/207 GS at Busch II) as Cardinals on that list.
- Has 1,190 regular season strikeouts at Busch Stadium III, 15th-most all-time at a single stadium. Jim Palmer (1,191 SO at Memorial Stadium) ranks 14th.
- Is tied with Lance Lynn and Trevor Rosenthal for most Postseason appearances at Busch (13). Leads in PS starts (8), IP (62.0), strikeouts (72) at Busch III.
LAST TIME OUT
- Bypassed a scheduled simulated game, and came off 15-Day IL to turn in a solid 5.0 IP at Chase Field on Mon. (7/24), departing with 5-2 lead. The game went back-and-forth before Cardinals pulled out 10-6 win with a 5-run 9th inning uprising.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/24 @ARI W 10-6 — 5.0 4 2 2 2 3 0 76-47
