This series wraps up Cubs vs. Cardinals for this year (barring an unlikely postseason matchup). After struggling vs. the Cardinals in their first two series of 2026, the Cubs took three of four in St. Louis last month and so the season series is tied at five wins each.
For more on the Cardinals, here’s Doc Holliday, manager of our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva el Birdos.
Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy have emerged as top of the rotation talent. Pallante may be the most effective arm on the staff right now after May got traded and Michael McGreevy had a couple of less-than-ideal starts. Meanwhile, Matthew Liberatore has been a dumpster fire and he’s the scheduled starter on Friday. Major control issues. He had one start out of his last four that was strong when he had everything working. That has been the exception and not the rule. He’s the weak link which again is why Friday afternoon’s game is crucial.
Riley O’Brien has gotten his control back and has been effective in his most recent save attempts. Caleb Ferguson was a mistake pickup at the trade deadline who might not be on the roster by the time the Cardinals arrive in Chicago.
The Cardinals’ offensive story is a mixed bag. Alec Burleson has returned to his Silver Slugger-level self and has been a RBI monster this past week. He had three home runs a few games ago and was key to the victory over the Phillies on Wednesday. Jordan Walker hit his first home run since the All-Star break recently. He has not regressed to 2025 Jordan Walker and continues to make hard contact. JJ Wetherholt has been struggling at the top of the lineup as his average is now down in the .240’s, but there were signs today that he might be coming out of the slump. Ivan Herrera has also become red-hot. He’s horrific as a defensive catcher, having not thrown out even one runner this year, but as a DH he’s amazing. Newcomer Everson Pereira, who the Cardinals claimed a few days ago from the White Sox, has made a great first impression. Made one of the best plays we’ve seen this year in center field Tuesday night as he slammed into the wall at full stride to rob the Phillies of a scoring chance. Then he hit a solo blast in the late innings to ice Tuesday night’s victory.
St. Louis will arrive in Chicago with momentum. There’s a vibe similar to what the team had early in the season, but I suspect Friday’s game will be key. I’m expecting an exciting weekend. The Cubs have the chance to torpedo the Cardinals chances at making a run at the third Wild Card spot. If St. Louis can somehow manage to win the series against Chicago, could be the springboard to a serious September run.
Fun facts
After losing two of three games when they hosted the Cardinals for the first time this season, July 3-5, the Cubs were 50-40 and the Cards were 47-40.
Since then, the Cubs are 21-11; the Cardinals, 14-20. Instead of leading the Cards by 1.5 games, the Cubs are up by 9.0.
The ancient rivals have played 2,536 games, the second most the Cubs have played against any opponent, behind 2,631 against. the Pirates. Their 1,286 wins over the Cards are their second most, too, just five fewer than their 1,291 vs. the Pirates. 716 of the Cubs’ win have come at home, their most vs. any guest. They have won 700 against the Braves and 691 against the Pirates.
The Cubs have split 10 games against the Cards this year. They won the series, 8-5, a year ago, by sweeping the last three games of the season at Wrigley, by 12-1, 7-3 and 2-0. They had won two of three earlier in the year and three of four in the second series of 2024, so the Cubs are 9-4 in their last four at home in the rivalry.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Friday: Clay Holmes, RHP (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 2.000 WHIP, 7.33 FIP in one start with Cubs; 4-5, 2.86 ERA, 1.165 WHIP, 3.48 FIP in 10 starts overall) vs. Matthew Liberatore, LHP (5-9, 5.15 ERA, 1.522 WHIP, 4.70 FIP)
Saturday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (8-1, 3.50 ERA, 1.218 WHIP, 3.95 FIP) vs. Michael McGreevy, RHP (4-9, 3.64 ERA, 1.222 WHIP, 4.25 FIP)
Sunday: Shōta Imanaga, LHP (8-9, 3.74 ERA, 1.100 WHIP, 4.56 FIP) vs. Hunter Dobbins, RHP (2-3, 3.40 ERA, 1.311 WHIP, 4.21 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Apple TV (how to watch)
Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 2:15 p.m. CT, ABC-TV (full national broadcast, no blackouts). Also available streaming on the ESPN App (subscription required).
Prediction
The Cardinals just took two of three from the Phillies at home, but the Phillies have been in a slide in general lately, while the Cubs have been hot. That should be enough for the Cubs to take two of three here.
Up next
The Cubs host their crosstown rivals, the White Sox, in a three-game series at Wrigley Field beginning Monday evening.