The Cardinals are playing a doubleheader today. My involvement - a pizza bet - is fading Jack Flaherty. He's scheduled to start against Zach Davies in Game 2.

St. Louis is hot. The Cubs are in rebuild mode. I understand that. I also know, though, that those backing the Cardinals are paying a premium to get Flaherty - and he's not going to pitch very long. I consider Flaherty one of the best pitchers in the National League. But he's endured an injury-plagued season. He missed 2 1/2 months because of a strained oblique muscle and then he was shut down following his Aug. 24 appearance because of shoulder soreness.

He hasn't pitched since. The Cardinals are going to be extra careful with him here. They want to ease Flaherty into the postseason when the games really matter. So essentially the Cardinals are laying a monster price in what amounts to a glorified bullpen game.

I'm not a fan of Davies, but he does have a 1.69 ERA in three starts versus St. Louis this season.

The wind is blowing out at 14 miles per hour, so there should be plenty of runs. The Cubs are the more powerful team ranking 11th in homers with 202. The Cardinals are 20th in homers with 176.