ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals and division-rival Chicago Cubs player the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field tonight as the Cardinals begin a seven-game road trip through Chicago and Arizona (July 21-23) … St. Louis went 5-1 on their recent six-game homestand against the Nationals (2-1) and Marlins (3-0) … Starting tonight, 29 of the next 41 Cardinals games are against sub-.500 teams.
REDBIRDS RISING: Entering today in 4th place in the NL Central, 10.0 games behind 1st place Milwaukee, the Cardinals have climbed out of the divisional basement for the first time since May 28 when they were last all alone in 4th place … St. Lois has spent 80 of 109 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-July 7) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1995 when they were 39-57 (.406) after 96 games.
TIME TO FLY: The Cardinals have won a season-best five in a row and eight of their last 10 games, matching the Orioles (8-2) for MLB’s record since July 6 … They’ve won three-straight series now, and with a win tonight, can post their first six-game win streak since an eight-gamer last August.
TASTE OF CHICAGO: The Cardinals and Cubs face off in eight of the next 11 games … Beginning with the London Series and leading into the trade deadline (June 24-July 30), 20-of-32 Cardinals games are against teams from the Windy City (13) or Miami Marlins (7).
- St. Louis is 13-5 over the Cubs at Wrigley Field since July 10, 2021. The Redbirds took two-of-three from the Cubs at Wrigley Field in May.
- Each of the first nine games between the Central Division rivals this season will be played outside of the city of St. Louis … The Cubs travel to Busch Stadium for a four-game series from July 27-30, the latest in the season that Chicago plays its first game in St. Louis since Aug. 13-15, 2010.
- Prior to this season, the earliest St. Louis and Chicago ended a season series before August 1 was 2004 (April 30-July 20).
OH CANADA: The Cardinals today activated OF Tyler O’Neill from the 60- Day Injured List and designated RHP Ryan Tepera for assignment … O’Neill missed the previous 63 games due to a left lower back strain … Six years ago tomorrow (July 21, 2017), the Canadian joined the Cardinals organization via trade with Seattle in exchange for LHP Marco Gonzales and later made his made MLB debut at Wrigley Field ( April 19, 2018) … O’Neill is batting .287/.340/.574 (27-94) with 8 HR, 20 RBI, and .914 OPS in 26 games vs. Cubs since 2021.
FISH FRY: The Cardinals dropped the first three games of the season series to the Marlins, then won the next four that culminated with yesterday’s three-game series sweep … The last time St. Louis had a seven-game season series in which it lost the first three games and won the next four was in 2010, doing so against both the Dodgers and Rockies that season … The Cardinals have never won a seven-game postseason series in which they lost the first three games. – Elias
NOOT NEWS: Lars Nootbaar has reached base safely in a career-best 16 straight games (.270/.361/.429) since July 1, tying with Anthony Santander for MLB’s 2nd-longest active behind Freddie Freeman (20).
CARDINALS “DEVIL” MAGIC: The Cardinals 928-669 (.581 win pct.) won-loss mark post All-Star break since 2000 is 2nd in MLB only to the New York Yankees (949-665, .588) … The Cardinals best post All-Star mark this century was a 51-24 (.680) run in 2004 … St. Louis has sported a winning record after the All-Star break in 19 of 22 seasons since 2000, including a 43-25 record last season (.632).
FAST BREAKS: The Cardinals best starts coming out of the All-Star break include an eight-game win streak in 1935 and a seven-gamer in 2010 … Their best 10-game mark coming out of the break was 9-1 in 1935 … Most recently, the 2015 Cardinals raced out to a 8-2 start after the break, while the 2022 Redbirds stumbled out of the gate 1-3 before winning nine of their next 10 games.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP STEVEN MATZ (0-7, 4.65)
NL Ranks: Losses (7, T-8th), Pitch Tempo-bases empty (12.0 sec/pitch, 9th)
- Making his third start since returning to the starting rotation. His 13th start of the season and 21st appearance.
- Last started/appeared at Wrigley Field on July 18, 2016 as a member of the Mets.
- In his last start (and first since May 24 at Cincinnati) threw 5.1 innings striking out a season-high nine batters allowing one unearend run with two hits. Became the 4th Cardinals pitcher to strike out nine or more batters this season. Tied his longest outing of the season without allowing a walk (5/7 vs. DET).
- Started the first 10 games of the season before being moved to the bullpen where he made eight straight relief appearances.
- Has made 158 starts in his career and 18 relief appearances, 13 of those in relief with the Cardinals.
- Posted his 5th career season with 20 or more appearances.
- Enters play today with a career-high tying 7-game losing streak (also 2018).
- Has a mark of 0-6 with a 5.40 ERA (60.0 IP) in 12 starts this season.
- Is 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA (16.0 IP) in eight relief appearances, allowing runs in only three of eight appearances. Has worked 2.0+ IP in relief in four outings, and threw 64 pitches in 3.1 IP of relief on 6/29 vs. HOU.
- Hurled the Cardinals season-high for innings pitched in relief (3.1) twice, garnering 10 scoreless outs, in London vs. CHI (6/24) and vs. HOU (6/29).
- Last win came against the Reds in relief on Sept. 17, 2022 in extra innings and his last win as a starting pitcher came vs. the Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 23, 2022.
- Limiting opposing LH batters to a .200 BA (12-60) with three extra base hits (2 HR, double).
- Since joining the Cardinals in 2022, is 5-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 35 appearances (22 starts). The Cardinals lost his first six games started this year, before posting a 12-6 win vs. Detroit (5/7).
- Only win as a Cardinals starting pitcher at Busch Stadium came on May 2, 2022, a rescheduled game tossing 6.0 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win vs. Kansas City.
LAST TIME OUT
- Departed the game before registering a decision as the Cardinals went on to win 9-6. Threw 4.1 innings allowing four runs, four hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
- Surrendered home runs to Alex Call and CJ Abrams. Had not allowed a home run since
5/24 at CIN (Matt McLain), a stretch of 23.1 innings.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/15 WSH W 9-6 ND 4.1 4 4 4 3 4 2 86-56
2023 SEASON
- Went a career-high nine appearances without allowing a home run covering 23.1 innings pitched (5/29-7/9), 2nd-longest in his career behind 27.0 IP (4/17-5/4/16 with NYM).
- Returned to the rotation on July 9 at CWS, after firing 8.2 scoreless innings over three relief appearance before allowing a run. Pitched one of his finest starts holding the White Sox to an unearned run over 5.1 innings with no walks and nine strikeouts in a no decision. Posted this highest game score (71) by 15 points.
- Became the 4th Cardinals pitcher to strike out nine or more batters this season. Tied his longest outing of the season without allowing a walk (5/7 vs. DET).
- Moved to the bullpen after his start at CIN (5/24) and went 0-1 with a 1.98 in the eight relief appearances working his way up to back
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 the two-game set in London June 24-25 … following this series the teams finish with four games in St. Louis (July 27-30) … the Cubs are looking for their first season series win vs. St. Louis since going 14-5 against the Cardinals in 2017.
THE BIRDS ARE BACK IN TOWN: The Chicago Cubs tonight open a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals … the Cubs yesterday beat the Nationals 8-3 for their first series victory at Wrigley Field since June 16-18 vs. Baltimore.
This is the seventh of a 10-game homestand vs. Boston (1-2), Washington (2-1) and St. Louis (four games beginning today).
Chicago is 7-6 in its last 13 games and 8-12 in its last 20 contests since June 25 following a stretch in which it went 11-2 in 13 games from June 9-24.
The Cubs are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (+38) … Pittsburgh is at -72, St. Louis -21, Cincinnati -16 and Milwaukee -7.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Kyle Hendricks (no decision) recorded his sixth quality start of the season, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts in 6.0 innings … Cubs starters have now thrown at least 5.2 innings in each of the team’s last five games, the longest streak for the club since six Cubs starters did so July 31-August 5, 2020.
Mike Tauchman went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and a walk … it was the first time in his career he recorded three extra-base hits in one game, including his second career game-opening homer (also June 18) … his three RBI tied a season high and gives him six RBI in the last two games, his highest career RBI total in a two-game span.
Nico Hoerner cushioned the Cubs lead in the eighth inning with his first career grand slam … it was the Cubs second grand slam in the last five days.
FAMILIAR FOES: Chicago plays 12 of the its next 14 games against division rivals, facing the Cardinals at Wrigley July 20-23 (4 games) and again in St. Louis July 27-30 (4 games), followed by four games vs. Cincinnati July 31-August 3 (4 games) … the Cubs are currently 12-11 against the N.L. Central.
As part of the 14-game stretch, the Cubs play the Cardinals in eight of their next 10 games … the last time Chicago played one team in eight of 10 games was July 25-August 4, 1996 against the Rockies (July 25-28 @ COL, July 30-31 vs. SF and Aug. 1-4 vs. COL).
SEIYA IS SIZZLING: Seiya Suzuki on Tuesday went 4-for-6 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored … his four hits and his three RBI both tie career-highs … in his last 12 games dating to July 4, Seiya is batting .354 (17-for-48) with one triple, two home runs, five RBI and eight runs scored … his current hot stretch comes off a run of 13 games (June 15-July 3) in which he hit .102 (5-for-49) with a .301 slugging percentage.
His single in the first inning Tuesday came off the bat at 114.6 mph, the hardest batted ball by a Cub and hardest hit at Wrigley Field this season.
THAT’S A LOADED STATEMENT: In the team’s 31 games since June 11, the Cubs are batting .500 (14-for-28) with two home runs, three sacrifice flies, three walks, 40 RBI and a .514 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.
The Cubs .514 OBP, RBI (40) and runs scored (42) with the bases loaded since June 11 pace the majors … Chicago also ranks third in average (first in the N.L.)
and OPS (1.229), and its .714 slugging ranks fifth in the majors, second in the N.L., since June 11.
Nico Hoerner is tied for the league lead in bases-loaded RBI (9) in that span.
BELLI AT BAT: Cody Bellinger in 26 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion) has batted .371 (36-for-97) with 22 runs, five doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI and an .989 OPS … he has a 7.5% walk rate and 15.0% strikeout rate in this span.
Bellinger enjoyed a career-high 13-game hitting streak from June 24-July 7, a stretch in which he hit .479 (23-for-48) with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI and a 1.167 OPS.
Bellinger owns a .436 average (34-for-78) since June 24, the best mark in the majors in that span … his .471 OBP ranks second and his 1.150 OPS is sixth in the majors during the stretch … Bellinger has five blasts in his last 10 games, including three July 15-16.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR … OUTFIELDER: Ian Happ tallied his eighth outfield assist of the season Sunday against the Red Sox, tying his career high from last season … his 16 outfield assists since the start of 2022 rank tied for the N.L. lead and tied for sixth-most in the majors in that span.
Happ’s latest assist came in the team’s 92nd game … he is the first Cub since Kyle Schwarber in 2018 to record eight outfield assists by team game no. 92 and just the third since 2000 (also Alfonso Soriano in 2007).
He is one of seven players in the majors and one of three in the N.L. with at least eight outfield assists this season … Adolis García of Texas leads the league with 11 outfield assists, and Fernando Tatis Jr. leads the N.L. with nine.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: As part of the Cubs 17 unanswered runs that began with Yan Gomes’ sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, the Cubs on Tuesday scored six runs in the
seventh inning and eight runs in the eighth … it was the first time since May 5, 2001 that the Cubs scored at least six runs in back-to-back innings and just the 11th time in franchise history.(Thanks to Ed Hartig for the info!)
TWO STRIKES? NO PROBLEM: Chicago on Tuesday tallied 20 hits, 12 of which came with two strikes … the Cubs are the only team in the majors this season to record at
least 12 two-strike hits in a game … it is just the second time the club has achieved the feat since 1974 – the Cubs also did so in Atlanta July 21, 2003 … only the Pirates on August 30, 2006, have had at least 12 two-strike hits (14) against the Cubs
Starting Pitcher – #0 RHP Marcus Stroman (10-6, 2.88)
Last Time Out
Marcus earned his 10th win of the season July 15 vs. Boston (1 ER/6.0 IP), the fifth time in his career that he has reached double-digits in wins (last, 2021) … recorded his first win in three starts dating to June 20 … made his ninth start in 2023 of at least 6.0 innings with one or fewer runs allowed.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
7/15 BOS W, 10-4 6.0 3 1 1 1 3 91-54 8-1
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 6-4 2.69 10 10 63.2 37 19 19 18 57
Road 4-2 3.11 10 10 55.0 50 23 19 24 44
AVG vs. LHB: .178 (42-for-236) / AVG vs. RHB: .233 (45-for-193)
Marcus is scheduled to make his team-high 21st start of the 2023 season today, his 11th at Wrigley Field … dating to Aug. 30, 2022, has allowed two runs or fewer in 20 of his last 27 starts, pitching to a 2.69 ERA (48 ER/160.2 IP), the second-lowest ERA in the majors during that span (min. 27 GS) … his 15 quality starts are tied for the major league lead this season and his 24 such outings since the All-Star break of last season are tied for the most in the majors … his .178 average allowed (42-for236) against left-handed hitters is the second-lowest among qualified major league starters and the lowest by a right-handed starter … his 2.88 ERA (37 ER/112.2 IP) is the third-lowest in the N.L. among qualified pitchers while his .203 average against is the fourth-lowest in the majors among qualified pitchers … his 118.2 IP is seventh in the N.L.
Earned his 10th win of the season July 15 vs. Boston, the fifth time in his career that he’s reached double-digit wins (last, 2021).
Started the Cubs’ second game in London vs. the Cardinals, suffering the loss (3 ER/3.1 IP) … left in the fourth inning with a blister on his right index finger.
Had a seven-start winning streak from May 19-June 20, the longest streak in the major leagues this season and longest in a single season since Justin Verlander also recorded a win in seven-straight starts, June 24-Aug. 4, 2022 … was the longest by a Cubs starting pitcher since Kyle Hendricks earned a win in eight-straight starts, May 16-June 22, 2021.
Was named the N.L. Player of the Week for May 29-June 4 … allowed one run (no earned runs) on five hits in 15.0 innings with 14 strikeouts in two starts during the week, earning a win in both outings.
May 29 vs. Tampa Bay tossed his second career complete game shutout (also Sept. 8, 2014 vs. Cubs), the Cubs first complete game since Alec Mills’ no-hitter, Sept. 13, 2020 at Milwaukee … took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning for the second time in his career (also July 24, 2014 vs. Boston).
Recorded his 1,000th career strikeout April 23 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.), retiring Freddie Freeman looking in the third inning.
Became the second Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 (also Jake Arrieta, 2016) with three outings of at least 6.0 scoreless innings in the team’s first 16 games.
Became the third Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 to allow two or fewer combined runs over his first four starts of a season (also Steve Stone, 1976; Jason Hammel, 2016).
Posted a 14.0-inning scoreless streak to begin the season, the fourth-longest by a Cubs pitcher since 1901.
Made his third career Opening Day start March 30 vs. Milwaukee (0 ER/6.0 IP), earning the win … improved to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (3 ER/21.0 IP) in his three career Opening Day starts.
In three Cactus League starts with the Cubs, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) and 10 strikeouts.
Made two starts for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP).
