Chicago Cubs Look to Continue August Run Against Cardinals

On Monday night, the Cubs will welcome the first-place St. Louis Cardinals into Wrigley Field for a five-game series. This is the first meeting between the teams since a three-game series in St. Louis earlier this month that resulted in a Cardinals sweep.

However, this is not the same Cubs team the Cardinals saw then. Willson Contreras’ walk-off 11th-inning hit to secure an electric 6-5 victory against the Brewers on Saturday all but sums up the recent stretch of Cubs baseball.

Relentless, electric and fun.

Since July 17, the Cubs have a record of 18-10, including 7-3 in their last 10 games. Especially in the current month of August, offensive numbers — eighth-best in team slugging percentage — and pitching performances — seventh-best in team ERA — have combined to make for a fun late summer as the Cubs look to build momentum for next year.

On the offensive side, newly added Franmil Reyes has continued to put up tenacious numbers at the plate in his first few weeks in a Chicago uniform. Leading the team in OPS (1.009) and slugging (.676) over the last 10 games, Reyes has collected seven extra-base hits in only 11 games with Chicago.

After being sidelined with a left groin strain, Nick Madrigal has returned in a big way off the injured list since rejoining the team on Aug. 2. The second baseman has collected 16 hits this month, including multiple three-hit games with two coming this past weekend against Milwaukee.

Collecting three hits in a game for the first time since late July, Seiya Suzuki had a big day at the plate Sunday, including his 10th home run of the season. In his last 10 games, he is batting .286 with a .464 slugging.

While many expected to see them dealt at the trade deadline, both Ian Happ and Contreras have been in the middle of the recent offensive surge.

Over the last 10 games, the switch-hitting Happ has a team-high .427 wOBA and nine RBI. In the same stretch, Contreras has a .937 OPS. They both have four home runs each.

Posting a team-wide best ERA since June (3.49), Chicago’s pitching has also found its footing in the stretch run. Lead by consistently strong outings from starters Justin Steele, Drew Smyly and Adrian Sampson, the staff has allowed just 66 earned runs across 170 1/3 innings pitched this month.

For the left-handed Steele, his 0.79 ERA across 22.2 IP this month is good for a team-best. He also leads the team in K/9 with a dominant 13.10. 

Smyly has posted a stretch of consistently good outings, allowing just two earned runs this month across 17 innings with a 0.94 WHIP.

Sampson, who earned his first win last week against Baltimore, has a 2.87 ERA in three starts.

As the Cardinals visit Wrigley Field this week for five games, the Cubs will look to play better than the last time they faced their division rival. Building upon their recent run, they could play disruptor in the tight race for the National League Central division throughout this five-game set.

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