Chicago Cubs’ name Travis Wood to start Saturday’s game against St. Louis Cardinals – MLB News
Chicago Cubs have slated Travis Wood as the starter for Saturday’s crucial game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs seem menacingly poised to strike a blow to the Cardinals’ aspiration to make it to the playoffs via the Wild Card.
Friday’s game was a highlight of this wherein the Cubs overwhelmed the Redbirds with a 5-4 win, a result that the Cardinals would best avoid. Saturday’s encounter will come with a psychological advantage for the Cubs and increased pressure on the Cardinals.
That is what the Cubs' manager Dale Sveum referred to while speaking about the ongoing three-game series.
"It is a time to play against one of the better teams again, and hopefully you do knock them further down in the standings or knock them out of the Wild Card if the Brewers keep it up," said Cubs' skipper Dale Sveum.
Cardinals, on the other hand, will dispatch Adam Wainwright on the mound to do what is needed. Faced with an uphill task, Wainwright will be hard pressed in Saturday’s game given the magnitude of the challenge coupled with his recent slump.
Having given up four runs in last 12 innings, Wainwright needs to overcome the problems he is confronting. Whether he will be able to do that or not – especially when the Cubs are having Wood on the mound, will be something interesting to see.
Be that as it may, the Cardinals' manager does not seem too pessimistic about the prospect of winning. He thinks that the team is pretty much focused on what it is supposed to do.
"We're really trying to just enjoy each one and realize how much we're putting on each game as a club," manager Mike Matheny said. "[We're] not looking forward to anything but the next one. I think the guys are staying pretty focused with that."
Once done with the three-game series, wherein the Redbirds will try to win the next two games, the Cardinals will be on their way to play a three-game series against Houston Astros, a series that will determine the fate of the club as far as playoffs are concerned.
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