Lance Lynn takes the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals  opposite Scott Feldman as the major league-leading Cardinals go for a seventh home win in eight games against the Chicago Cubs in the conclusion of a four-game set Thursday night at Busch Stadium.

Averaging 9.21 strikeouts per nine innings to rank fifth in the NL, Lynn (9-1, 3.56 ERA) has been nearly unbeatable this year. His only blemish came May 7 in a 2-1 defeat at Wrigley Field, allowing a two-run homer to Nate Schierholtz -- one of just four hits -- while striking out eight in seven innings.

Although the Cardinals' offense failed to come through that day, Lynn was fortunate to walk away with a win in Saturday's 13-7 victory at Miami. The right-hander gave up a career-high seven runs and season-worst nine hits over five innings

Leading the NL in runs (359), average (.276), and on-base percentage (.336), St. Louis (46-26) has taken six of seven and 15 of 20 from the Cubs (29-41) at home. The Cardinals came through again in Wednesday's 4-1 victory.

Jake Westbrook threw seven sharp innings and Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer as St. Louis improved to 16-8 at home since April 30.

Molina is batting .449 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in his last 24 games.

"With the way he's been hitting, but more importantly the way he's handled us as a staff and the way we've been pitching,"

Westbrook said of Molina, whom he believes is deserving of MVP consideration. "He, in my mind, is the reason for that."

The Cardinals will try to stay hot against Feldman (6-5, 3.05), who allowed two hits and struck out six over seven innings of one-run ball in Saturday's 5-2 road win over the New York Mets.

"His cutter seems to be harder, and it seems like (it has) a few more inches of movement," Sveum told MLB's official website.

"He's able to stick to the game plan so well, he can pitch down and away to stay away from slugging -- which he did very well for the most part."

Feldman has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but two of his last 12 starts.