The road trip for the Cubs that ends their July won't get any easier this weekend as they travel to St. Louis to take on divisional foe the Cardinals. After getting swept in a three game set by the Brewers in Milwaukee, the Cubs will hope they can rebound against the second place Cardinals.
Matt Garza will start for the Cubs on Friday night in St. Louis. Garza, 4-7 with a 3.73 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, has been the victim of bad luck this year. He's turned in several great starts, as with his last against Houston, in which he pitched seven innings of two run baseball only be to be awarded with a no decision. For the most part, the offense has been what's been holding Garza's win totals down, with a lack of run support during most of his outings. In his last game against St. Louis, he pitched 5.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven. This year, Nick Punto is 2-for-2 against Garza with a double.
St. Louis will start newly acquired pitcher Edwin Jackson. Jackson, recently traded in a three team deal involving the White Sox and Blue Jays, is 7-7 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. His last start, against Cleveland, saw him earn the win after giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over 6.0 innings pitched. In his last game against the Cubs, while he was a member of the White Sox, Jackson got the win after giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over six innings pitched. Darwin Barney is 1-for-3 against Jackson this year, while Aramis Ramirez is also 1-for-3 with a home run.
The weather in St. Louis is forecast to be hot and stormy, with scattered thunderstorms predicted in the evening and a game time temperature in the upper 80's. Weather permitting, first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 P.M., CDT, and the game will be televised on WGN and FS-M.