Cubs vs Cardinals — After a very nice run (9-1 over their last ten games, plus a five-game winning streak), including a series win over the Brewers and a sweep of the Padres, the Chicago Cubs are in a good place as the calendar flips to July.
Sure, they’re still 5.0 games out of first place, but they’re in sole possession of the top Wild Card slot (by 0.5 games over the Phillies), and they have four more wins than the 3rd Wild Card-slotted Cardinals, who arrive at Wrigley Field for a three-game set this weekend.
The Cubs also had an off-day yesterday and another on Monday, with the All-Star break just over a week away. Which is just another way to re-state the point: they’re in a good position to keep rolling.
And it’s important that they do.
The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline is exactly one month away, and these three games against the Cardinals (plus the four at the end of July) are the biggest “playoff implication” games before that deadline. If the Cubs want Jed Hoyer to buy big, they’re going to have to keep on winning. Like, right now. There’s no time left for “we’ll figure it out later.” Gotta keep that pedal to the metal.
To that end, let’s talking about the pitching matchups.
First up, this afternoon, the Cubs have the recently acquired David Peterson making his second start in a Cubs uniform. His first start went very well (5.2 IP, 2ER @MIL) and the Cubs are hoping his groundball tendencies and their defense can result in something closer to the All-Star calibre pitcher he was last season (as opposed to the 5.00+ ERA guy he’s been most of this season).
Note, however, that Peterson faced the Cardinals (as a Met) back on June 10, and they kind of crushed him: 3.2 IP, 7H, 6ER, 2BB, 1K.
He’ll go up against Andre Pallante, who has good numbers overall, but did struggle against the Cubs in one start earlier this year (3.0 IP, 8H, 4ER, 1BB, 1HR, 3K) and in his last time out against the Marlins (6.2 IP, but five earned runs on 11 hits).
Tomorrow, on the Fourth, the Cubs have Shota Imanaga coming off a technically successful start (6.1 IP vs the Padres), though one in which he didn’t actually look his best. No homers allowed, though. So that’s a win. He’s going up against Kyle Leahy, who held the Cubs to just one earned run on six hits over 4.1 IP earlier this year. Leahy hasn’t been great this season and has significant lefty/righty splits. So I like that matchup for the Cubs, all things considered.
And finally, for the finale on Sunday, Javier Assad is actually swinging back into the rotation (after last appearing out of the pen) while going up against Matthew Liberatore.
Liberatore has not had a good season at all (5.33 ERA), and the Cubs are the best offense in baseball versus left-handed pitching. So it’s tough not to feel good about that one, too.
Offensively, the Cardinals had a very good June, though are closer to league average for the season. Their best hitter, Jordan Walker, has come back down to Earth a bit over the last month, with just a 120 wRC+ (still great, but far from the 146 wRC+ he put up before that).
They have several other solid hitters, but if you neutralize Walker, you have a good chance to neutralize the offense as a whole. Easier said than done, but he’s the guy on whom to focus.
***
And finally, I’d just like to note how fun it is to have a matchup against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field over Fourth of July Weekend with real playoff implications. At this point, the Brewers have taken over as the Cubs primary baddies, but the rivalry with St. Louis is never going away. So let’s stick it to the Cardinals for America.
Cubs vs Cardinals – Matchups and Probables
PITCHING PROBABLES Three-game series · Wrigley Field, Chicago GAME 1 Fri, Jul 3 GAME 2 Sat, Jul 4 GAME 3 Sun, Jul 5 First Pitch Watch Listen 3:05 PM CT Marquee / Cardinals.TV 104.3 The Score CUBS David Peterson LHP 4–6 ERA 5.86 VS CARDINALS Andre Pallante RHP 9–5 ERA 3.83 First Pitch Watch Listen 7:08 PM CT FOX 104.3 The Score CUBS Shota Imanaga LHP 5–6 ERA 4.30 VS CARDINALS Kyle Leahy RHP 6–4 ERA 4.09 First Pitch Watch Listen 1:30 PM CT Peacock 104.3 The Score CUBS Javier Assad RHP 6–1 ERA 4.53 VS CARDINALS Matthew Liberatore LHP 4–5 ERA 5.33 All games at Wrigley Field · CHC 49–38, STL 45–39Cubs vs Cardinals – Key Injuries:
INJURY REPORT Cubs vs. Cardinals · entering July 3, 2026 CHICAGO CUBS 10-DAY IL Matt ShawSprained hand (left)INF/OF 15-DAY IL Jameson TaillonStrained hamstringSP Daniel PalenciaElbow inflammationRP Ben BrownStress reaction in neckSP Edward CabreraStrained hamstringSP Phil MatonKnee tendinitisRP Hoby MilnerAppendectomyRP Ethan RobertsStrained forearmRP 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 60-DAY IL Ramón UríasElbow lateral epicondylitis (right)INF IL status and designations entering July 3, 2026.Hence then, the article about cubs vs cardinals at wrigley field with playoff implications over fourth of july weekend that s murica 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.
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