Cubs optimistic about weekend series with Cardinals
For the Cubs, it's time for a showdown series in the Show-Me State.
As the baseball season rapidly approaches its halfway point, the Cubs find themselves heading to St. Louis to face the first-place Cardinals while holding one of the wild-card spots in the National League.
The Cubs were disappointed Thursday after losing 4-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. That enabled the Dodgers to salvage a series split after the Cubs had won the first two games.
Even so, the upstart Cubs go into Busch Stadium with a 39-32 record and feeling good about themselves.
"We believe we're good; we are good," said catcher David Ross, who has postseason experience. "That's not a surprise. We're beating good teams on a regular basis. We're probably not as consistent as we want to be yet. Hopefully that comes."
Jon Lester, signed to be the ace of the pitching staff, took the loss as he went only 4 innings and gave up all 4 runs. His record fell to 4-6 with a 4.03 ERA.
"I think we should show up every day and feel good," he said. "I don't see why we shouldn't. We've been playing good baseball. We were in that game right there. It's not like that game was out of hand. Obviously it's kind of magnified because of the way it started. Your starter only goes 4. It looks like a blowout. It really wasn't. We had our chances.
"We're right in it. We should feel good every day we show up. Regardless of who or where or when we're playing, we should feel good about it and be ready to play against St. Louis tomorrow."
The Cubs have been saying since the end of last season that their goal was to contend and even win the NL Central. That's still the goal.
"Of course it is," said manager Joe Maddon. "I know we have folks who have been skeptical about that, but I've been in the moment where it's been a lot more difficult to get there and been part of groups that have. We're going to keep getting better. I believe that.
"We've had kind of a mini-run but not a real good run yet. I believe that's all possible. You've always got to keep your eye … the focus has to be winning the division. And if you don't, then you still have a shot. But if you don't want to aim high enough and miss your target, you're really in a bad place. I can't change the way I look at that."
All that said, Maddon insists he won't put too much emphasis on this weekend's series in what should be a supercharged atmosphere at Busch Stadium.
"Like I told you before and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I think every game is (important)," he said. "I don't apply any more weight to any particular game. Of course, when you're playing them, you definitely want to make some noise. But I don't want our guys to approach it any differently. I don't want them to think they have to play any harder, any better. Just go play.
"The other team just happens to be the Cardinals. I think that's the trap, when you start applying too much weight to one game, and if you don't come through, then you can be very disappointed. And I don't want that."
Cubs scouting report
Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium
TV: ABC 7 today; FOX Saturday; ESPN Sunday
Radio: WBBM 780-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jake Arrieta (7-5) vs. John Lackey (6-4) today at 7:15 p.m.; TBD vs. Michael Wacha (9-3) Saturday at 6:15 p.m.; Jason Hammel (5-2) vs. Carlos Martinez (8-3) Sunday at 7:08 p.m.
At a glance: There should be plenty of blue in the stands as Chicago fans make their way to St. Louis for this big series. The Cubs are 2-4 against their Gateway Arch rivals this year, 1-3 in St. Louis. Even though the Cubs currently own one of the wild-card spots, their aim is still the NL Central. The Cardinals entered Thursday leading the NL in ERA (2.69) while the Cubs were fourth (3.46). Busch Stadium is a tough place for teams as the Cardinals are 26-7 there. Wacha (2.85) and Martinez (2.89) entered Thursday among the league leaders in ERA.
Next: New York Mets at Citi Field, Tuesday-Thursday
- Bruce Miles