The St. Louis Cardinals were on the wrong side of a three-game sweep at Chicago during the first week of May, and I think they'll be fired up here in the opener of a three-game set against their NL Central rival.

The Cards hand the ball to right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.76 ERA). He fanned nine while allowing three runs through seven innings against Atlanta last time out. Mikolas has compiled a 3.15 ERA in six home starts on the season and the Cards are 10-4 in his last 14 home starts. In six career games (four starts) against the Cubs, Mikolas is 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA.

Chicago turns to right-hander Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.40 ERA) who was charged with six runs on 12 hits against Cincinnati last time out. He gave up five runs in four innings against St. Louis on May 4.

The Cubs are 31-23 on the season, but note that the Cardinals are a solid 10-2 in Mikolas' last 12 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

10* play on St. Louis Cardinals.