Jordan Wicks Gave Up 8 Runs, and Nobody Is Ready For What He Does Against the Cardinals Tonight

Hold onto your hats, Seattle, because if you thought the May weather in the Emerald City was wild, you haven't seen anything like what's been happening in the National League Central! Tonight, as May wraps up, we've got a rivalry game with more drama than a Sounders shootout, and one pitcher, Jordan Wicks, is staring down a chance to completely flip his season on its head. This is the series finale, and it's going to be a wild one.

The Cubs Had the Craziest May Ever, Seriously

Man, talk about a roller coaster! You thought our Hawks had some ups and downs? The Chicago Cubs started this month on FIRE. They kicked off May with a ridiculous eight straight wins, capping off their *second* 10-game winning streak of the season. You'd think they were untouchable, right? But then, just when everyone was ready to crown them, they hit a wall, losing 14 of their next 16 games, including a brutal 10-game skid. That's a gut punch, for real. But don't count 'em out yet, because manager Craig Counsell's squad has since pulled off three wins in their last four, including a big 6-1 victory on Saturday night against their long-time rivals, the Cardinals. They've got a chance to take the series tonight, which would be a huge boost after that mid-month meltdown. And what about Seiya Suzuki? The dude has been struggling to find his power stroke, which is tough to watch. He finally snagged a double on Saturday, his first extra-base hit since May 15. Last season, he was raking with 31 doubles and 32 homers in 571 at-bats, but this season he's only got five doubles and seven homers in 168 trips to the plate. His last bomb was way back on May 8. He’s trying to figure it out, though, telling reporters through an interpreter, "There's good at-bats, and there's some bad at-bats, but I think the amount of good at-bats is increasing. Hopefully, I'm trying to figure everything out one at-bat at a time. Even if I'm not hitting well, I can focus on defense and trying to help the team there." That's the grind right there, something our own Mariners know all about.

The Cardinals Bullpen Is Absolutely Cooked

Meanwhile, over in St. Louis, it feels like everything's going sideways. The Cardinals have dropped five of their last six games, and their pitching staff is screaming for help. Their manager, Oliver Marmol, has been burning through relievers like crazy because his starters can't get deep into games. On Friday, Andre Pallante lasted only three innings, forcing six relievers into action. Saturday was no better, with Kyle Leahy going just 4 1/3 innings and needing four more arms from the bullpen to finish. Those relievers got hammered for five runs, two of them earned, in the 6-1 loss. Leahy, bless his heart, told reporters, "I feel like I let them down. If I'm able to get through a little bit more, then Gordon (Graceffo) doesn't have to do (1 2/3 innings) on back-to-back and things like that. It's a trickle effect." You hate to see it. Tonight, they're hoping for a long outing from left-hander Matthew Liberatore, who's sitting at 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA. He hasn't pitched more than six innings all season, and in his last start, he lasted five innings in a 5-1 loss, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks. He did strike out a career-high 10, though, so maybe there's a spark there. His career numbers against the Cubs are decent, 1-1 with a 3.70 ERA over 10 games, four of them starts. He last faced them in July 2025, going five innings for a no-decision in an 8-6 win. The dude needs to eat innings, plain and simple.

Wicks' Redemption Arc Is Brewing

But the real wild card tonight is the Cubs' starter, former first-round pick Jordan Wicks. The dude's got an 0-1 record and a 16.62 ERA this season. His season debut on Tuesday was an absolute nightmare, where he got shelled for eight runs on nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings during a 12-1 loss. Ouch. You'd think the guy would be dreading another start, especially against a rival. Here's the kicker, though: Wicks has faced the Cardinals three times, including one start, and hasn't allowed a single run in eight innings against them! Last season, he came out of the bullpen twice against St. Louis, even snagging a three-inning save in a 2-0 home win back in September. So, while his overall season numbers look like a typo, he's got a secret weapon when it comes to the Cardinals. Tonight, he takes the mound for his second start of the season. Can he bottle that rivalry magic again? This series finale is more than just another game, it's a chance for the Cubs to end a chaotic May on a high note and for Jordan Wicks to prove that Tuesday was a fluke. You know we'll be watching every pitch. Go baseball!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.