If not for a division rival, the Chicago Cubs (37-38) could be considered one of the hottest teams in baseball, and after a big win in the series opener on Saturday, they will once again do battle with their rival St. Louis Cardinals (31-45), who are looking to get anything going in 2023 as they look to climb out of last place in the NL Central.
Neither of these teams has been at their best for the entire season, but both come into this game with much momentum behind them, and with a potentially tantalizing matchup on the mound, this should be a lot closer than the 9-1 blowout on Saturday, as both teams look to treat the London crowd to more fantastic baseball.
Expected pitching matchup: RHP Marcus Stroman vs. RHP Jack Flaherty.
On the mound, the Cubs will turn to their hottest starter in Marcus Stroman, who has won each of his past seven starts, throwing 48.2 innings over that time and allowing just seven earned runs over that dominant stretch. On the year, Stroman has lowered his ERA to a career best 2.28, and while he's likely to be a hot commodity on the trade market, he's still a Cub right now, and they'll look to him for a dominant outing once more.
On the mound, St. Louis will look to veteran Jack Flaherty who is having one of his worst years in recent times, struggling to a 4-5 record with a dismal 4.95 ERA in 80 innings pitched. In his lone start against Chicago this year, Flaherty managed a no-decision through five innings of work, allowing three runs, and after the Cubs flexed their offensive muscles in the opener of this series, they'll need a big bounce back performance from the six-year veteran.
Neither of these teams has been at their best for the entire season, but both come into this game with much momentum behind them, and with a potentially tantalizing matchup on the mound, this should be a lot closer than the 9-1 blowout on Saturday, as both teams look to treat the London crowd to more fantastic baseball.
Expected pitching matchup: RHP Marcus Stroman vs. RHP Jack Flaherty.
Can Chicago stay red-hot?
The Chicago Cubs 2023 season has been full of ups and downs, but with recent momentum behind them, they're in striking distance of the NL Central lead with an 9-1 record in their past 10 overall games, as well as being 6-1 in their past seven played against right handed starters. In their past 10, they've been red-hot, tallying nine wins over that time, and with a perfect 7-0 record against division rivals in that time, this is their chance to make a genuine push for the top.On the mound, the Cubs will turn to their hottest starter in Marcus Stroman, who has won each of his past seven starts, throwing 48.2 innings over that time and allowing just seven earned runs over that dominant stretch. On the year, Stroman has lowered his ERA to a career best 2.28, and while he's likely to be a hot commodity on the trade market, he's still a Cub right now, and they'll look to him for a dominant outing once more.
Can St. Louis get anything going?
The St. Louis Cardinals struggles have been one of the biggest stories in baseball this year, as a consistent franchise that have seen very few failures in recent years, but with a 1-5 record in their past six games played against NL Central rivals and a 4-8 mark in their past 12, there's no sign of them turning it around anytime soon. In their past 10 games, the Cardinals have tallied a 4-6 record, but with so much talent, there's got to be some positivity coming soon on such a stacked, experienced roster.On the mound, St. Louis will look to veteran Jack Flaherty who is having one of his worst years in recent times, struggling to a 4-5 record with a dismal 4.95 ERA in 80 innings pitched. In his lone start against Chicago this year, Flaherty managed a no-decision through five innings of work, allowing three runs, and after the Cubs flexed their offensive muscles in the opener of this series, they'll need a big bounce back performance from the six-year veteran.
