A preview of some key match ups for the season-opener on August 24.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

With a chance yet to play a powerful part in the Cardinals’ September push for a playoff spot, Marcell Ozuna and the team surrendered Wednesday to the shoulder pain that has limited his throwing and, they now acknowledge, his slugging all season.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The only previous time Jack Flaherty started a game at Dodger Stadium, he was in high school, and before the game began he and his teenage teammates sat in the stands and marveled at how unfamiliar the ballpark felt without a big-league crowd, how empty it was.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Cubs will have the distinction of being the last opening-day opponent at Globe Life Park when they start the 2019 season against the Rangers on March 28, according to their tentative schedule released Tuesday.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

Daniel Murphy displayed in his first at-bat for them Wednesday night what his new Cubs teammates had been lacking.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

As far back as spring training, the Cardinals front office acknowledged how right-leaning and right-heavy the team’s outfield and bench was for the coming season. The officials would openly muse about wanting the kind of lefthanded bat for the bench that they once had.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

After the fourth inning, with the Cardinals holding a two-run lead and sporting a handful of starters in the bullpen, manager Mike Shildt approached righthander Daniel Poncedeleon with the news his evening was over, his start complete, his job done.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Given the struggles of the Cubs’ offense and injuries to Kris Bryant and Addison Russell, the addition of Cubs killer Daniel Murphy may be too important to downplay despite manager Joe Maddon’s warning.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

Even when the Cubs do something right lately, there’s a price to be paid.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

With an ominous stretch of 23 games without a scheduled day off starting Tuesday, manager Joe Maddon’s annual American Legion Week can’t last long enough for the Cubs.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.