The Chicago Cubs will try to clinch a tie for the National League Central title Monday night against the rival St. Louis Cardinals at steamy Busch Stadium. Jon Lester (11-8, 4.56 ERA) will face the Cardinals’ Luke Weaver (7-1, 2.05 ERA) in Game 1 of this pivotal series. Lester is 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals this season. The Cubs are 11-4 against the Cardinals so far this season, including a three-game sweep from Sept. 15-17 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have a 44-23 record since the All-Star break, the second-best mark in baseball, trailing only the Indians.
