Wetherholt's first-pitch homer sets stage for Cardinals-Cubs finale

St. Louis carries a 2-0 series lead.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 51 min read

JJ Wetherholt homers on the first pitch of the game and the @Cardinals shut out the Cubs! https://t.co/Orc4eSfwR4

What happened: JJ Wetherholt homered on the first pitch in the previous meeting as the Cardinals blanked the Cubs. The St. Louis Cardinals lead the series 2-0 entering Sunday's scheduled game in Chicago.

Why it matters: Chicago enters at 49-39, while St. Louis is 46-39. The matchup carries NL Central implications as both clubs approach the All-Star break.

By the numbers: The Cardinals have outscored the Cubs 20-1 through the first two games of the series. Chicago averages 5.1 runs per game and allows 4.6; St. Louis averages 4.7 and allows 4.5.

What to watch: Watch whether Wetherholt can provide another early spark and whether Chicago's offense responds in the scheduled finale.

Sources

@MLB Jul 5, 12:52 AM ET

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Wetherholt's first-pitch homer sets stage for Cardinals-Cubs finale

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