St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Watch FREE: MLB Online Streaming on Monday Night at 2:20 PM ET from Wrigley Field

St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright is riding a four-start winning streak, a run that began at home against the Cubs.

Wainwright tries to extend his 25-inning scoreless streak as the Cardinals open a three-game set at Wrigley Field on Friday.

Wainwright (5-1, 1.20 ERA) has been sensational in the early going, striking out 42 and walking 11 over 45 innings while holding opponents to a .157 average. He already has four scoreless outings under his belt, and his ERA ranks second in the majors.

Wainwright has only allowed six runs thus far, and he hasn't surrendered any since giving up four over seven innings in a 10-4 win over the Cubs on April 12. He joined Daryl Kile, Bob Tewksbury and John Denny as the only Cardinals pitchers to win five games through April after throwing eight innings of three-hit ball in Sunday's 7-0 victory over Pittsburgh.

Instead of going with a fifth starter, St. Louis moved Wainwright up a day following Thursday's day off.

Wainwright has a 2.33 ERA during his three-start winning streak versus Chicago, striking out 24 in 19 1/3 innings. He is 6-0 in 16 games -- 11 starts -- at Wrigley, yielding one or two runs in six of his last eight outings there.

The Cubs (9-17) return home after splitting a rain-shortened two-game set at Cincinnati.

The Cubs now turn to Travis Wood (1-3, 3.52), who gave up all five runs in Saturday's 5-3 loss at Milwaukee. The left-hander allowed seven hits and walked three in 5 2/3 innings.

Wood could benefit from returning home, where he's gone 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA while striking out 18 in his last two outings spanning 13 innings.

The Cardinals have won seven of 11 in Chicago.

"I just love the atmosphere," Matheny said. "I love the hatred that the Cubs fans have for us. That makes for some of the most interesting fan interaction you can possibly have."

The game will be live streaming online atgofirstrowus.eu/sport/baseball.html‎