Cubs vs. Cardinals: Adam Wainwright to Take the Mound Against NL Central Rivals

The St. Louis Cardinals (5-2) will take on the Chicago Cubs (2-5) to open up Friday's National League schedule at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:15 p.m. ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Cardinals as -200 home favorites while the total stands at 7.5, but they are receiving heavy action on the "under" in the early going.

Chicago was in danger of getting swept by Milwaukee in a four-game series for the first time in its history, but managed to avoid that fate with a dominating 8-0 win on Thursday.

The Cubs are hoping outfielder Marlon Byrd can get going offensively after a day off; he's managed to collect just one hit in 21 at-bats his first six games of the 2011 campaign. The 34-year-old came into the year hitting a combined .319 with 34 RBI in April since 2009.

Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 1.04 ERA) will take to the mound for the second time this year. He's coming off an electrifying 4-3 home win over the Washington Nationals on April 8, where he allowed just a single earned run (two unearned) and scattered four hits over 8.2 innings.

The right-hander will be making his 14th overall appearance (and third start) against the Cardinals, posting an even 2-2 mark and 6.04 ERA in those outings. Samardzija has struggled mightily with his control against the defending World Series champs, issuing 20 walks in just 22.1 frames.

It's important to note that this rivalry has followed an important trend over the last four years, with each team alternating series victories in that period. Chicago dropped 10 of 15 meetings a year ago.

Bettors will have a hard time looking past the Cubs' dreadful 5-21 mark as a road underdog of +151 to +200 in their last 26 chances.

St. Louis has showed little-to-no sign of suffering a hangover from winning last year's World Series, playing without star first baseman Albert Pujols and losing longtime skipper Tony La Russa.

The Cardinals return home for the first time after completing a three-city, seven-game road trip with a 5-2 record. It's been an unusual journey, too, since the Cards opened the season on prime-time television against the Miami Marlins to open Marlins Park on April 4.

Offensively, the club has been absolutely incredible in the early going, leading all NL teams with a .301 batting average entering Thursday's action. The team was also atop all of baseball with an outstanding .371 on-base percentage.

Adam Wainwright (0-1, 4.76 ERA) will make his second start since undergoing right elbow surgery that ended his 2011 season before it started. He suffered a 6-0 road loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on April 7. Although Wainwright allowed three runs and four hits over 5.2 frames, he he issued a single walk and fanned six batters.

In 23 career appearances (14 starts), Wainwright has notched a respectable 6-4 record and 4.09 ERA versus the Cubs, but that could improve due to possessing the lowest home ERA (2.46) in the majors since 2006.

The Cardinals should be rejuvenated after a day off, as they have won seven straight games in that particular situation. Weather forecasts suggest mostly cloudy skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a 15-20 mph wind blowing in a southeasterly direction (left to right).