Game Overview
- First Pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. CT
- Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
- Series Status: Cardinals lead 1–0 in the current 3-game set
- Season Series: Tied 4–4
Pitching Probables
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | Colin Rea | 8–5 | 4.23 | 1.32 | 79 |
| Cardinals | Andre Pallante | 6–8 | 4.57 | 1.31 | 80 |
- Rea has struggled against left-handed hitters (.305 AVG, 5.66 FIP)
- Pallante enters in solid form (2 ER over last 12 IP)
Key Players to Watch
Chicago Cubs
- Seiya Suzuki: 27 HR, 84 RBI
- Nico Hoerner: .292 AVG, 12-for-37 last 10 games
- Kyle Tucker: 18 HR, .271 AVG
St. Louis Cardinals
- Lars Nootbaar: 3-game hit streak, strong splits vs. RHP
- Brendan Donovan: .278 AVG, 24 doubles
- Willson Contreras: 16 HR, 64 RBI
Team Trends & Stats
| Team | Last 10 Games | Batting AVG | ERA | Run Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | 4–6 | .226 | 4.03 | –6 |
| Cardinals | 5–5 | .245 | 3.83 | –3 |
- Cubs rank 3rd in MLB in slugging (.437)
- Cardinals are 32–14 when not allowing a home run
Injury Report
Cubs: Soroka, Amaya, Taillon, Morgan, Assad, Steele (all IL) Cardinals: Arenado, King, Thompson (all IL)
Final Take
The Cubs are favored but enter with offensive concerns, having scored just 3 runs in their last 3 losses. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are riding momentum after a 5–0 shutout win and have favorable matchups against Rea’s splits. Expect a tight contest with potential value on the under and player props like Lars Nootbaar’s H+R+RBI.
Game Odds
Chicago Cubs – 112
St. Louis Cardinals 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, August 8, 2025
