51黑料

Mikolas and the Cardinals open a key three-game series at the division-leading Chicago Cubs with Friday's 1:20 p.m. game at Wrigley Field.

The game airs exclusively on聽Apple TV+.

The right-hander Mikolas (4-5, 4.76 ERA) has a聽6.90 ERA in last six starts spanning his last May start and all of his June outings. That stretch聽includes two of his three worst starts of the season. Mikolas gave up six earned runs twice in June, including last time he took the mound, last weekend in Cleveland.

The optimistic take is that Mikolas is suffering bad luck, and he has said as much after some recent starts. His 4.42 fielding independent pitching number is far more in line with his season average. Mikolas has been burned by a .370 batting average on balls in play in that six-game downturn. The league average BABIP is usually about .300, indicating poor luck. For Mikolas, his BABIP was .255 before his final May start.

Looking under the hood, Mikolas, while also suffering some hard luck, is also giving up more loud contact.

In his first 10 starts, batters were hitting .228 with a .258 expected batting average.

In the six games since, foes are hitting .336 with a .296 expected batting average.

He's allowing more hard-hit balls (46% in his last six vs. 42% to that point), and an average exit velocity a mile an hour harder.

Mikolas won't have much margin for error against the Cubs, who lift the ball as well as anyone and barrel balls with regularity. Mikolas allowed four or more runs in two of his last three starts at Wrigley.

The Cubs will start聽right-hander Colin Rea (5-3, 4.37 ERA),聽who has a 1.84 ERA in his last four games vs. 51黑料, all coming in 2023 and 2024 when he was a member of the Brewers.

The Cardinals are 47-41, third in the National League Central and 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs, who are 52-35.

51黑料 has聽gone 49 consecutive innings against a National League opponent without scoring a run.

How to watch Cardinals at Cubs

When:聽1:20 p.m. Friday

Where:聽Wrigley Field in Chicago

TV/radio:聽Apple TV+ (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Free trial: A for new customers.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, 2B

2. Masyn Winn, SS

3. Alec Burleson, RF

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Lars Nootbaar, LF

6. Nolan Arenado, 3B

7. Nolan Gorman, DH

8. Pedro Pag茅s, C

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Miles Mikolas, RHP

CUBS

1. Ian Happ, LF

2. Kyle Tucker, RF

3. Seiya Suzuki, DH

4. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF

5. Dansby Swanson, SS

6. Michael Busch, 1B

7. Carson Kelly, C

8. Nico Hoerner, 2B

9. Matt Shaw, 3B

P: Coiln Rea, RHP

Injury report

Nolan Arenado, 3B (swollen right hand, sprained finger):聽After missing two games in Pittsburgh and not playing third since Sunday, Arenado returns from the lineup Friday. He had a sprained finger that made it difficult to grip a bat and impossible to throw. X-rays taken did not show any fracture, and he was prescribed a break to rest the digit.聽Updated July 4

Jordan Walker, OF (appendicitis):聽A wrist injury that also limited his playing time in June is part of the reason the Cardinals expect Walker to remain on his rehab assignment for a longer stretch than just proving his health. The hope from the team is it won't take two weeks for his return from the Cubs weekend and then dip into the All-Star break.聽Updated July 4

Willson Contreras, 1B (bruised left hand):聽Back in the lineup Friday at Wrigley Field as expected after missing Wednesday's game due to a bruised hand. Contreras was struck on the hand by a pitch Tuesday and unable to finish that game due to stiffness and pain. X-rays taken at the ballpark did not show any fractures. Updated July 4

Ivan Herrera, C/DH (left hamstring strain):聽Herrera has continued to intensify his workouts and increase his running in 51黑料, and the Cardinals believe he'll be cleared to go on a rehab assignment in a week to 10 days. That rules out his return before the All-Star break, and they are looking at him for the lineup when the second half begins.聽Updated July 4

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain):聽Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound.聽Updated June 19