Chicago Cubs vs St Louis Cardinals MLB Preview: Friday afternoon’s feature game will be a National League Central Showdown between the Chicago Cubs (69-46) and the St. Louis Cardinals (64-53) from Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. These teams, which are currently separated by 6 games in the standings, will kick off a 3-game weekend series that may have huge playoffs implications. The Chicago Cubs are -155 betting odds (ML) favorites to win game 1 at home against the St. Louis Cardinals (+135).

However, this series hold a lot more significance for one of these teams more than the other. Game 1 of this series has a scheduled start time of 2:20 PM ET (1:20 PM CT).

The Chicago Cubs have the best record in the NL, as they continue to hold on to that top spot in the Central Division. They currently have a 5 game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers (64-51), with the season winding down; less than 50 to games to play in the regular season.

Pinella and his team also have the second best record in all of baseball, which is only second to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (71-43). Friday, the Cubbies will be sending to the rubber, the veteran LHP Ted Lilly (11-6, 4.35, 129 K, 50 BB, in 140.2 IP).

Meanwhile the visiting, St. Louis Cardinals, are currently in 3rd place in the NL Central. However, the red birds remain very much alive in the playoff race, as they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by a mere game in the Wild Card standings. In the opener, manager Tony La Russa will counter Pinella's move by sending another veteran pitcher to the hill, RHP Braden Looper (10-9, 4.29, 65 K, 32 BB, in 134.1 IP).

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