Cubs ride high-octane offense into rematch vs. Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs are playing like a team that could make some noise in the postseason, but manager Craig Counsell knows there still is work to be done.

The Cubs will look to build on their momentum when they continue a four-game series against the host St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Chicago pounded out 14 hits in a 7-3 win on Monday.

Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner each homered and had four hits for Chicago, which has won 26 of its last 38 games and holds a 5 1/2-game lead as the first wild card in the National League.

The Cubs have 25 runs over their past three games, going 2-1.

"Look, I think we have shown that we can play at a high level," Counsell said. "The best thing about a major league season is you can't fake your record, man, over 162 games. It's too many games. And so, I feel like the teams that get to October, they've earned it. And we've got a long way to go."

St. Louis has lost eight of its last 10 games and is a 1 1/2 games behind the final NL wild-card spot. The Cardinals also are back at .500 for the first time since April 13, when they were 8-8.

Like the Cubs, St. Louis is expected to be active ahead of the trade deadline next Monday. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said he has been connecting with his players to keep them focused amid any possible distractions.

"I just try to make sure we're available to the guys that want to have a conversation to make sure that they're in the right headspace," Marmol said. "That's basically it."

The expected pitching matchup for Tuesday's game will feature a pair of right-handers as the Cardinals' Michael McGreevy (4-8, 3.07 ERA) faces Chicago's Colin Rea (7-7, 4.85).

McGreevy, 26, allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings in a 10-6 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. He settled in after giving up a two-run homer to Tyler Locklear in the fourth inning.

"I think if I execute that pitch and I throw it a little farther down in the zone, it's not a homer," McGreevy said. "He might take it, he might hit a double down the line, but it's not a two-run shot. But that's just something you can learn from."

Ian Happ is 4-for-8 against McGreevy, who is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in three career starts vs. the Cubs.

Chicago will counter with Rea, who allowed four runs over five innings in a 5-1 home loss to the Detroit Tigers last Wednesday.

Rea, 36, has given up 17 home runs in 105 2/3 innings this season, including a three-run blast by Hao-Yu Lee in the loss to Detroit.

"I just threw a get-me-over fastball, and he put a good swing on it," Rea said. "With two outs there, you've got to be thinking a little bit better. Even though it's 3-0 there, you've still got to make a better pitch."

Lars Nootbaar is 4-for-13 (.308) against Rea, who is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in five career starts vs. St. Louis.

--Field Level Media