- Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs
- Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
- Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: Marquee Network
- Betting Odds: St. Louis (+132) Chicago (-160)
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The St. Louis Cardinals (45-39) are heading to Wrigley Field this Saturday to battle against the Chicago Cubs (49-38). The current moneyline for this matchup lists the Cardinals at +132, while the Cubs are favored at -160. The total points for the game is set at 8.5. Expected to take the mound are Kyle Leahy and Shota Imanaga.
The Cardinals currently have a slugging percentage of .393, with 646 strikeouts and 277 walks recorded. They have accumulated 367 RBIs and 693 hits this season, boasting a batting average of .246. As a unit, St. Louis has hit 116 doubles and launched 94 home runs, generating a total of 379 runs and an on-base percentage of .323. The Cardinals are averaging 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th overall in Major League Baseball.
The Cardinals have an earned run average (ERA) of 4.23 for the season, ranking them 16th overall, with 629 strikeouts from the pitching staff. Cardinals’ pitchers have surrendered 90 home runs and allowed 383 total runs (13th in MLB). With 283 walks issued, their Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) stands at 4.28 for the season. St. Louis pitchers have given up 726 hits (8.7 per 9 innings) and 353 earned runs. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2.22, and they maintain a collective WHIP of 1.34.
Cardinal relievers have been called upon 287 times this season, inheriting 135 base runners with a meager 34.1% scoring rate against them. The bullpen has recorded 59 holds, ranking 3rd in the league. St. Louis relief pitchers have faced runners on base in 93 instances and encountered 97 high-pressure situations, securing 26 saves this year out of 39 opportunities, resulting in a save rate of 66.7% from 100 save chances.
The Cardinals have successfully converted 69.6% of balls in play into outs over 6,756 innings, ranking 17th in the league. So far, the team has racked up 2,252 putouts, 801 assists, and 39 errors. Their fielding percentage is an impressive .987, positioning them 10th in the MLB with 77 double plays completed.
Leahy has pitched 219 innings throughout his career, accumulating 182 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.82 and a WHIP of 1.309. He has allowed 213 hits (averaging 8.7 hits per nine innings) and issued 74 walks. With a career record of 11-8, his FIP is noted at 3.76, facing a total of 927 batters during his time in MLB.
The Chicago Cubs are boasting a team slugging percentage of .414, averaging 5.15 runs per game (3rd in the league). They have recorded 138 doubles and 390 walks, accumulating 448 runs this season. With 112 home runs and 419 RBIs, they have struck out 737 times (13th in MLB) while achieving 730 hits. The Cubs’ on-base percentage stands at .340 with a team batting average of .245 this year.
On the pitching side, the Cubs have allowed 385 runs this season with an overall ERA of 4.23 (364 earned runs). They have given up 132 home runs while permitting 4.48 runs per nine innings (13th in the league). Their WHIP sits at 1.258, with a FIP of 4.73 for the season. The Cubs have a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.90 (680 strikeouts against 268 walks), positioning them 16th in MLB for total hits given up with 706.
Chicago’s relief pitching staff has an inherited run scoring rate of 29.5% from 122 inherited base runners. They have entered high-leverage situations 83 times and held runners on base during 86 appearances. With 63 save opportunities, the Cubs’ bullpen has recorded 29 holds but suffered 14 blown saves, ranking 26th in the league with a save rate of 51.7%, deploying 282 bullpen pitchers this season.
The Cubs have completed 62 double plays with a .989 fielding percentage (5th in MLB). They have achieved 809 assists, committed 34 errors, and secured 2,323 putouts this season. In 6,969 innings, Chicago boasts a defensive efficiency rating of 72.2% (2nd in the league).
Imanaga has given up 349 hits in his career, striking out 383 batters over 416 innings. His ERA is a solid 3.53, with a WHIP of 1.024 and a FIP of 3.5. The right-hander holds a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.97 and has faced a total of 1,657 batters in the majors, recording a win-loss record of 29-17 while allowing 7.5 hits per nine innings.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s MLB matchup, both against the spread and on the moneyline?
Prediction: Back St. Louis (+132)
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