Cubs vs Cardinals — Fresh off a series win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Cubs are headed out to St. Louis to begin a four-game set against the Cardinals.
St. Louis has struggled of late, dropping 7 of their last 10 games while falling 1.5 games out of a playoff spot (and they’re behind three teams for that final spot, too). Meanwhile, the Cubs have not made up any ground on the Brewers (in fact, they’ve lost ground), but they are firmly atop the Wild Card standings, with a 2.5-game lead over the WC2 Phillies (and they have a tie-breaker over them).
Needless to say, with the deadline looming, this is an ENORMOUS series for the Cardinals and a fairly big one for the Cubs.
As for the pitching matchups, I can’t get into the Cardinals too much, because they haven’t announced their probables officially, but we can run down the Cubs arms.
David Peterson is taking the bump first for Chicago, and outside of one bad start, he’s kind of been lights out in his Cubs tenure, particularly his last time out against the Tigers: 6.2 IP, 2H, 0ER, 1BB, 4K. Unfortunately, his one “bad” start was more like one “horrendous” start (3.2 IP, 9H, 10ER, 3BB, 3K) … and it was against these very Cardinals back on July 3.
But wait, it gets worse!
Peterson also faced the Cardinals (as a Met) on June 10, and once again they nailed him: 3.2 IP, 7H, 6ER, 2BB, 1K. Which, I gotta say … makes me wonder if they’re picking up something he’s tipping. 16H and 16 ER in 7.1 innings is wild stuff.
Colin Rea is taking the ball in Game 2 following a frustrating outing against the Tigers, when one very poorly placed heater resulted in a critical 3-run home run. But besides that, and for five starts before that, he had been cruising a bit. So I’m not too concerned just yet.
Plus, with any luck, the Cubs will get some additional starters at the deadline, eventually pushing Rea back into the bullpen. Rea did not face the Cardinals earlier this year.
Matthew Boyd is next up after Rea, and he’s been just absolutely awesome (in terms of results) since coming off the IL: six starts, 35.0 IP, 2.31 ERA.
However, his strikeout rate is exceedingly low, his strand rate is unsustainably high, and he’s given up a few more barrels than you’d like to see. He’s also been matched up against some particularly weak (vsLHP) offenses. So while I am feeling good about him in general, I would preach some caution to those who think he’s just totally “back.”
Shota Imanaga wraps things up for the early game on Thursday, and he has pretty much fully turned his season around after that brutal blip in May/June.
First Nine Starts: 2.32 ERA (3.07 FIP) Next Four Starts: 10.80 ERA (10.17 FIP) Last Eight Starts: 2.00 ERA (3.49 FIP)Whatever was causing every single player on every single team to homer off him in every single at-bat during those four games has subsided. His walk rate is down, his groundball rate is up, and there has been a TON of weak contact (85.7 MPH average exit velocity).
This has basically been the best version of Imanaga lately, so let’s hope it continues.
Imanaga faced the Cardinals on the Fourth of July, and although he lasted only 4.2 innings, he struck out eight batters and allowed just 2 earned runs.
My best guess at the Cardinals probables, with some quick stats or notes:
Matthew Liberatore, LHP: Has a 5.18 ERA this season, is killed by lefties this season (not true for his career though), and has already faced the Cubs twice this year (5.1 scoreless and then 5.0 IP with 3ER). As you can probably guess by his ERA, those were two of his better starts in 2026. Hunter Dobbins, RHP: Has a great-looking 3.18 ERA, but that has been earned over just 28.1 IP and comes alongside a 4.26 xERA. The story there, it seems, is that Dobbins allows a lot of hard contact and too many barrels. Dobbins is pretty split-neutral for his career, and he did face the Cubs once earlier this season, too (albeit not a start): 3.2 IP, 4H, 1ER, 0BB, 4K. Michael McGreevy, RHP: Somehow this dude has a 3.07 ERA through 20 starts this season … despite WAY worse peripherals: 5.45 xERA, 4.23 FIP. Sure, his walk rate is low, but his strikeout rate is nonexistent, his average exit velo and barrel rate allowed are both huge, and it’s not like he’s some massive groundball machine (though he is above average). Without watching him more closely start to start, I can’t really tell you what the deal is, but his .257 BABIP and 82.4% strand rate seem unsustainable. Perhaps the Cubs can help him normalize. McGreevy has fairly big lefty/righty splits, with lefties doing a LOT more damage. He has not faced the Cubs this year. Dustin May, RHP: has the opposite problem. His 4.59 ERA looks bad, but is hiding a 3.96 xERA and 3.16 FIP. Likewise, his strand rate and BABIP look unusually low to my eye given the totality of his statistics. So I think I’d again preach some caution as to what sort of pitcher you think the Cubs are facing on Thursday. May also has huge lefty/righty splits favoring lefties and has not faced the Cubs this season.Offensively, over the last week, the Cubs have had a few standout performers. Obviously, Pete Crow-Armstrong is leading that charge, but how about Dansby Swanson’s last 25 PAs: .409/.480/.500 (178 wRC+).
And perhaps even cooler is Pedro Ramirez, who is now up to a .305/.348/.451 (120 wRC+) slash line on the YEAR, as he approaches 100 PAs. Everyone is going to be asking about him at the trade deadline. Ian Happ (145 wRC+) and Seiya Suzuki (131 wRC+) have also had a productive last 14 days. Nico Hoerner (49 wRC+) and Alex Bregman (22 wRC+) have not. Small sample stuff here, though. You know who these guys are by now.
As for the Cardinals, only Alec Burleson is over a 100 wRC+ in the last two weeks, but he is also really swinging it: .429/.455/.500 (170 wRC+). If you can pitch around him, you probably should. Jordan Walker is obviously still good, too. He’s just had a mini slump here lately. JJ Wetherholt is another guy to keep an eye on. Again, overall, it’s a below-average offense, but they’ve got some talent. No doubt about it.
Cubs vs Cardinals – Matchups and Probables
PITCHING PROBABLES Four-game series · Busch Stadium, St. Louis GAME 1Mon, Jul 27 GAME 2Tue, Jul 28 GAME 3Wed, Jul 29 GAME 4Thu, Jul 30 First Pitch6:45 PM CT WatchMarquee / Cardinals.TV Listen104.3 The Score CUBS David Peterson LHP 5–7 ERA 5.97 VS CARDINALS Matthew Liberatore LHP 5–7 ERA 5.18 First Pitch6:45 PM CT WatchMarquee / Cardinals.TV Listen104.3 The Score CUBS Colin Rea RHP 7–7 ERA 4.85 VS CARDINALS Hunter Dobbins RHP 2–1 ERA 3.18 First Pitch6:45 PM CT WatchMarquee / Cardinals.TV Listen104.3 The Score CUBS Matthew Boyd LHP 6–1 ERA 3.81 VS CARDINALS Michael McGreevy RHP 4–8 ERA 3.07 First Pitch1:15 PM CT WatchMarquee / Cardinals.TV Listen104.3 The Score CUBS Shota Imanaga LHP 7–8 ERA 3.72 VS CARDINALS Dustin May RHP 5–7 ERA 4.59 All games at Busch Stadium · CHC 59–46, STL 53–52Cubs vs Cardinals – Key Injuries:
INJURY REPORT Cubs vs. Cardinals · entering July 27, 2026 CHICAGO CUBS 10-DAY IL Matt ShawSprained hand (left)INF/OF 15-DAY IL Daniel PalenciaElbow inflammationRP Ben BrownStress reaction in neckSP Edward CabreraStrained hamstringSP Hoby MilnerAppendectomyRP Ethan RobertsStrained forearmRP Phil MatonKnee tendinitisRP 60-DAY IL Justin SteeleElbow surgery (UCL revision repair)SP Shelby MillerTommy John surgeryRP Tyler AustinKnee surgery (patella debridement)1B/OF Hunter HarveyTriceps inflammationRP Cade HortonTommy John surgerySP Porter HodgeTommy John surgeryRP Riley MartinStrained elbow (flexor)RP ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 15-DAY IL JoJo RomeroAppendicitisRP 60-DAY IL Ramón UríasElbow lateral epicondylitis (right)INF Max RajcicTommy John surgeryRP IL status and designations entering July 27, 2026.Hence then, the article about cardinals face deadline pressure in four game series vs cubs probables streakers more was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Cardinals Face Deadline Pressure in Four-Game Series vs Cubs: Probables, Streakers, More )
Also on site :