Scouting report: Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field

TV:

ABC 7 Friday; FOX Saturday; NBC Sports Chicago Sunday

Radio:

WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups:

The Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (13-11) vs. Adam Wainwright (2-3) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; Cole Hamels (4-2) vs. Miles Mikolas (17-4) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Mike Montgomery (5-6) vs. Jack Flaherty (8-8) Sunday at 2:20 p.m.

At a glance:

The Cardinals are coming off a damaging series sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are trying to avoid missing the postseason for a third consecutive year. Matt Carpenter has seen his MVP chances take a hit with a .171 average in September. For the year, he is at .259/.377/.529 with 36 homers and 80 RBI. Yadier Molina has 20 homers, and Marcell Ozuna has 23 homers and 87 RBI. The Cubs are guaranteed a winning season for a fourth season in a row for the first time since a six-year run from 1967-72. Their offensive struggles are reflected in drops in runs scored to sixth in the NL and in home runs to 11th entering Thursday.

Next:

Postseason baseball, TBD

- Bruce Miles