CHICAGO CUBS (10-3)

at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (7-6)

First pitch: Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago +115, St. Louis -125, Total: 7.5

Jason Hammel and the first-place Cubs look to take the series from Jaime Garcia and the division-rival Cardinals.

The Cubs (10-3) took the first of three from the Cardinals (7-6) at Busch Stadium on Monday night, winning 5-0 behind a stellar outing from John Lackey. Chicago now owns the best record in the major leagues and is three games ahead of second-place St. Louis in the National League Central. Starting for Joe Maddon’s squad on Tuesday will be RHP Jason Hammel (1-0, 0.75 ERA, 9 SO, 7 BB in 12 IP), who has been rock solid in his first two starts of the season. On the mound for the Cards will be LHP Jaime Garcia (1-0, 2.40 ERA, 19 SO, 4 BB, 1 CG in 15 IP). This matchup features the two best offenses in the majors. St. Louis leads the league in runs per game (6.5) and Chicago is second (5.8). What separates the two rivals is pitching. The Cubs own the National League’s best ERA (2.24), and St. Louis comes in at fifth (3.87). The Cardinals’ bullpen (2.35 ERA) has actually been slightly better than Chicago’s (.240 ERA), however. The Cubs don’t get fazed on the road, as they’ve posted an impressive 6-1 mark away from Wrigley Field.

CF Dexter Fowler (.378, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .500 OBP, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 BB, 1 SB) has been the Cubs’ best hitter, and he just continues to set the table from the leadoff spot. On Monday night, the 30-year-old went 2-for-5 with a double and a 435-foot homer in the sixth inning that broke a scoreless tie. No other regulars are hitting above .300. So how are the Cubs scoring? They get on base (.352 OBP – tied for 2nd in NL) and hit home runs (14 – 5th in NL). 3B Kris Bryant (.250, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and Jorge Soler (.216, 2 HR, 5 RBI) have gotten off to slow starts, but they each have a pair of home runs. 1B Anthony Rizzo (.174, 3 HR, 11 RBI) has been a boom-or-bust hitter, with plenty more busts than booms. But he’s always a threat to go yard. Only four Cubs have ever faced Garcia. Fowler is 0-for-9 lifetime against the veteran, and RF Jason Heyward (.188, 0 HR, 7 RBI)—the ex-Cardinal who’s gotten off to an abysmal start for the Cubs—is 2-for-12 against Garcia with three strikeouts.

Who is hitting for the Cardinals? It’s not who you think. You may not have heard of SS Aledmys Diaz (.400, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .432 OBP, 6 2B, 1 3B) and RF Jeremy Hazelbaker (.351, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .381 OBP, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 SB), but the rookies are absolutely raking for manager Mike Matheny. But it’s not just youngsters who are contributing. The always-reliable Yadier Molina (.313, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 4 2B) is still hitting at age 33. What makes the Cardinals’ lineup so dangerous is its depth and ability to get power from anywhere in the order—and off the bench. 3B Matt Carpenter (.255, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .417 OBP), 1B Matt Holliday (.227, 2 HR, 7 RBI), RF Stephen Piscotty (.224, 2 HR, 8 RBI), CF Randal Grichuk (.194, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and SS Jedd Gyorko (.192, 2 HR, 4 RBI) each have two home runs, and 1B Brandon Moss (.206, 4 HR, 10 RBI) leads the club with four dingers in just 34 at-bats. Molina has hit Hammel very well in his career, going 6-for-13 with three doubles and a pair of RBIs.