The Chicago Cubs started the season in a furious tempo and are still boasting the best record in baseball. This is a good time for for the St. Louis Cardinals to make up some ground in the NL Central division though with Chicago losing seven of their past 11, and I think the Cardinals can record an upset tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Cardinals hand the ball to Adam Wainwright (4-3, 5.92) who struggled through the first month and a half of the season, but he's coming off his best start of the year. Wainwright threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings against Colorado his last start and he has done his best work home at Busch this season. The Cubs counter with John Lackey (4-2, 3.31 ERA) who shut out his former club over seven innings on April 18. Lackey has been inconsistent on the road though, giving up six runs in two of his four starts away from home.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - The Cardinals have won each of Wainwright's last four starts against the Cubs and he has the current members of the team limited to a .222 batting average over 117 at bats.

3. X-Factor - Stephen Piscotty has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 contests and he has recorded three multi-hit performances during a five-game streak.

Selection: This is a play on the St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 (8*)