Worth noting

• Adam Wainwright was searching for career win No. 101 when he took the mound Saturday against the Cubs. Wainwright's 101st win would tie him for 10th on the Cardinals' all-time wins list with Matt Morris, Larry Jackson and Max Lanier.

• Mark Ellis (patella tendinitis) is likely headed to Triple-A Memphis for a rehab assignment. The move has not been confirmed by the team, but Matheny said the move "appears to be the case" before Saturday's game against the Cubs.

• Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija had nothing but praise for the Cardinals after he helped pitch the Cubs to a 6-3 win in the series opener Friday night.

"I like to compete and if I'm going to compete, I like to compete against the best, and that's the Cardinals," Samardzija said. "Over the past five years, you can't say there's a better team in the league. I was happy to do my job."

• Triple-A Memphis beat Iowa, 8-5, in its home opener Friday night. Oscar Taveras went 3-for-4 and Ed Easley belted a two-run homer for the Redbirds.