Overview
- The Cardinals’ offense combined for eight runs on six hits in game one and cut the Cubs’ NL Central advantage from 4.5 to 3.5 games.
- Alec Burleson has hit .349 with four homers and 14 RBIs over his last 22 games, while Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman each delivered key extra-base hits in the opener.
- Cubs bats were held to two runs and one home run as St. Louis pitching limited Chicago’s lineup, and the club will counter Tuesday with Jameson Taillon (7-4, 3.84 ERA) against Erick Fedde (3-6, 3.54 ERA).
- Chicago is 25-7 this season in games with at least two home runs and has leaned on Pete Crow-Armstrong, who leads the team with 21 long balls.
- Ivan Herrera’s hamstring strain landed him on the 10-day injured list and removes a .320/.392/.533 hitter from the Cardinals’ lineup after 42 games.