(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals will try to get back on the winning track today when they close out a three-game series against the NL Central- rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals had a two-game winning streak stopped in Saturday's 5-4, 10- inning loss. St. Louis was stung by Phil Nevin, who singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.

St. Louis welcomed the return of Jim Edmonds after the center fielder missed the team's previous three games because of post-concussion syndrome. He finished with a hit and a run scored for the Cardinals, who now lead the NL Central division by 2 1/2 games over Cincinnati.

The Cardinals have lost seven of their last 11 games and will send ace Chris Carpenter to the hill on Sunday. Carpenter is 11-6 with two shutouts and a 3.09 ERA in 24 starts this season.

Carpenter, the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner, was 0-2 in three starts before collecting a win over Cincinnati on August 15. Carpenter hurled a four-hit shutout with six K's and no walks against the Reds.

The right-hander, who is 6-3 with a 4.60 ERA in 12 road starts this season, is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two games versus Chicago in 2006. For his career, Carpenter is 6-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 11 starts against the Cubs.

Juan Mateo will toe the mound for Chicago on Sunday and is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three games (two starts) this season.

After recording his first major league win on August 3 against Arizona, Mateo has notched back-to-back no decisions. Mateo did not factor into the decision on August 15 versus Houston, yielding two runs in five innings of work.

The rookie right-hander has never faced St. Louis in his career.

Chicago has won five of its last six games and owns a commanding 11-4 advantage in the 2006 season series with St. Louis, including an 8-1 record at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs are 9 1/2 games off the NL wild card chase and 12 games behind St. Louis for the top spot in the National League Central standings.