The up-and-down Chicago Cubs have a chance to end the month on a positive note when they wrap up their three-game road series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night.
Chicago started May with eight straight wins to wrap up their second 10-game winning streak of the season. However, manager Craig Counsell’s team then lost 14 of their next 16, including 10 straight. The Cubs have since won three of their past four, and thanks to winning 6-1 on Saturday night, they will have a chance to take the series from their longtime rival.
One batter looking to end May on a good note is right fielder Seiya Suzuki, who has had trouble finding his power.
He hit a double on Saturday for his first extra-base hit since May 15. Last season, Suzuki tallied 31 doubles and 32 homers in 571 at-bats. He has five doubles and seven homers in 168 at-bats this season, and he last went deep on May 8.
Suzuki and the Cubs hope his Saturday performance was a sign of things to come.
“There’s good at-bats, and there’s some bad at-bats, but I think the amount of good at-bats is increasing,” Suzuki said through an interpreter. “Hopefully, I’m trying to figure everything out one at-bat at a time. Even if I’m not hitting well, I can focus on defense and trying to help the team there.”
The Cardinals could use a win as well, having lost five of their last six. They also could use a long start from left-hander Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 4.76 ERA) on Sunday.
Andre Pallante lasted just three innings in his start Friday, forcing manager Oliver Marmol to use six relievers in the team’s 6-5 win. On Saturday, Kyle Leahy went just 4 1/3, and Marmol needed four from the bullpen to finish the game.
Cardinals relievers gave up five runs (two earned) in the 6-1 loss.
“I feel like I let them down,” Leahy told reporters. “If I’m able to get through a little bit more, then Gordon (Graceffo) doesn’t have to do (1 2/3 innings) on back-to-back and things like that. It’s a trickle effect.”
Liberatore has not pitched more than six innings this season. He lasted five innings in his most recent start, a 5-1 loss at Milwaukee on Monday, and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. He was tagged with the loss but also struck out a career-high 10.
The left-hander is 1-1 in his career against the Cubs with a 3.70 earned run average over 10 games, four of which were starts. He last faced the Cubs on July 5, 2025, in Chicago, going five innings and giving up two runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out four but got a no-decision in the Cardinals 8-6 win.
Former first-round pick Jordan Wicks (0-1, 16.62) gets his second start of the season for the Cubs. The left-hander made his season debut on Tuesday, giving up eight runs on nine hits in a 12-1 loss at Pittsburgh. Wicks went 4 1/3 innings and struck out five while walking one.
He has three appearances with one start against the Cardinals and has not allowed a run in eight innings. Last season, he faced St. Louis twice, both times in relief. That included a three-inning save in a 2-0 home win on Sept. 28.
-Field Level Media
