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Playoff Hopes Alive, Cardinals Conclude Series with Rival Cubs
The St. Louis Cardinals are wrapping up a pivotal four-game series against their NL Central rivals, the Chicago Cubs, on Sunday night. With their playoff hopes on the line, the Cardinals are determined to secure a crucial win and stay in the wild-card race.
Series Overview
The Cubs and Cardinals have been locked in a fierce battle through three games, with the Cubs holding a 2-1 series lead. However, the Cardinals showed their resilience with a dramatic 5-4 victory on Saturday, demonstrating their determination to remain in playoff contention.
Saturday’s Dramatic Win
The Cardinals fought back from an early 4-1 deficit to clinch a thrilling win on Saturday. Lars Nootbaar’s tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning sealed the deal. Tommy Pham led off the ninth with a triple and scored on Nootbaar’s flyout. The Cardinals’ comeback was fueled by a three-run rally in the eighth inning, taking advantage of two crucial fielding errors by the Cubs.
Pitching Performances
Kyle Gibson, along with relievers JoJo Romero and Ryan Helsley, combined to shut down the Cubs, allowing only two hits over the final seven innings. Despite the Cubs’ initial lead, the Cardinals’ pitchers kept them in check, enabling St. Louis to mount their comeback.
Cubs’ Fielding Miscues
The Cubs’ defensive errors proved costly. In the eighth inning, a throwing error by third baseman Isaac Paredes and a mishandled pop-up by center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong allowed the Cardinals to tie the game. “You get a run out of a throwing mistake,” said Gibson. “And then I told Nolan when he walked in (to the dugout), ‘Sometimes you’ve just got to put the ball in play and take advantage of little bloops.'”
Pitching Matchup: Miles Mikolas vs. Justin Steele
Miles Mikolas
Miles Mikolas (8-8, 4.99 ERA) will start for the Cardinals. In his last outing, Mikolas allowed three runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Washington Nationals. He has a solid track record against the Cubs, holding a 6-5 record with a 2.97 ERA in 22 career games (20 starts) against them, although he has been less effective this season with a 5.09 ERA in three starts.
Justin Steele
Justin Steele (2-5, 3.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs. Steele struggled in his last start, giving up five runs over five innings in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds. However, he has been effective against the Cardinals, with a 4-1 record and a 3.47 ERA in six starts.
Key Insights
- Cardinals’ Resilience: The Cardinals’ ability to capitalize on the Cubs’ mistakes and come back from a deficit showcases their resilience and determination to stay in the playoff race.
- Cubs’ Defensive Issues: Defensive lapses have cost the Cubs dearly, and they need to tighten up their fielding to avoid similar setbacks.
- Pitching Duel: The performance of Mikolas and Steele will be crucial. Mikolas aims to maintain his strong record against the Cubs, while Steele looks to bounce back from a rough outing.
Conclusion
As the Cardinals and Cubs prepare for the series finale, the stakes are high for both teams. The Cardinals are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, while the Cubs aim to recover from a costly loss and improve their standing. With key players and pitching matchups in focus, fans can expect a thrilling and competitive game.
