Cardinals vs. Cubs: Chicago SP Matt Garza Has Been Sensational at Wrigley Field

The St. Louis Cardinals (11-5) and Chicago Cubs (4-12) will open up a three-game National League Central series on Monday night at Wrigley Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Cardinals as -110 road favorites, while the total stands at 7 across the board.

St. Louis won two of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates to open up its current six-game road trip, as the team looks to win its seventh straight series to open up the 2012 campaign. The Cardinals captured two of three at home versus the Cubs from April 13-15.

Jaime Garcia (2-0, 3.06 ERA) will look to build off his last effort as he gets ready for his fourth start of the year, coming off an 11-1 home win over the Cincinnati Reds on April 18. He has benefited greatly in receiving 25 runs of support by the Cardinals' offense in those efforts.

The left-hander will be facing the Cubs for the sixth time (fifth start), entering with a winning 2-1 record and 2.22 ERA, including a 1-0 mark and 2.51 ERA in three previous appearances (two starts) at Wrigley Field.

Sports bettors will find that the Cardinals are 5-1 in their last six games as a road favorite, while the "over" is 20-6-1 in Garcia's last 27 road starts.

Chicago is still looking for its first series win, dropping two of three home games against the Cincinnati Cardinals over the weekend. The Cubs are currently suffering a power outage after not homering in their last eight games.

Matt Garza (1-1, 3.66 ERA) gives the Cubs a chance to win a series opener for just the second time in six tries, posting a 1-0 record and 1.23 ERA in two home starts this year, which includes eight shutout innings against the Miami Marlins in a 8-0 win on April 12.

The 28-year-old right-hander is set to make his fifth lifetime start against the Cardinals, 2-1 with a 5.32 ERA, including a 2-1 mark and 3.57 ERA in three outings last year.

Garza has been sensational in his last 14 tries at Wrigley Field, giving up three or fewer earned runs in each of those starts, while compiling a 1.79 ERA.

The Cubs are 6-0 in Garza's last six starts versus divisional foes, while "under" is 3-1-2 in that situation.

Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the upper-40s, with winds out of the north-northwest at 5-10 mph (left to right).