The Cards, who've gone 13-6 since the All-Star Break, beat the Cubs 2-1 on Tuesday, only to have Chicago post a 2-0 win on Wednesday. The teams, who enter Thursday's play with a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the Central Division, will meet seven more times this season — a four-game set at Wrigley Sept. 19-22 and in the regular-season's final three-game series on Sept. 27-29 at Busch.
The Cards will also see the Brewers a bunch down the stretch: Aug. 19-21 and Sept. 13-15 at Busch and Aug. 26-28 in Milwaukee.
"He's been in a good place in everything he's doing,'' Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said prior to Thursday's game.