CHICAGO – With the Cardinals clinging to a 1 1/2 game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the second Wild Card, the Cubs have a chance to ruin their rival's season.
Lefty Travis Wood (6-12, 4.25 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs while St. Louis counters with right-hander Adam Wainwright (13-13, 3.97).
The Cubs have won eight of their last 14 games dating to Sept. 7 and are in the midst of a 10-day, 10-game homestand.
Second baseman Darwin Barney is five games shy of tying Placido Polanco's single season major league record for consecutive games without an error (141).
Cardinals starting lineup
1. Jon Jay, CF
2. Carlos Beltran, RF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Allen Craig, 1B
5. Yadier Molina, C
6. David Freese, 3B
7. Daniel Descalso, 2B
8. Pete Kozma, SS
9. Adam Wainwright, P
Cubs starting lineup
1. David DeJesus, CF
2. Darwin Barney, 2B
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano, LF
5. Starlin Castro, SS
6. Welington Castillo, C
7. Dave Sappelt, RF
8. Josh Vitters, 3B
9. Travis Wood, P
-- Meghan Montemurro
