- Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs
- Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
- Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: Marquee
- Odds/Point Spread: St. Louis (+126) Chicago (-152)
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On Friday, Wrigley Field will witness a showdown between the Chicago Cubs (71-50) and the St. Louis Cardinals (61-60). The odds for the game favor St. Louis at +126, while Chicago comes in at -152. The over/under is set at 8.5 runs, with Matthew Liberatore and Clay Holmes taking the mound for their respective teams.
The Cardinals have accumulated 171 doubles and launched 122 home runs this season, boasting a slugging percentage of .379. They have faced 933 strikeouts while drawing 393 walks. With an average of 4.4 runs per game, St. Louis ranks 19th in the league, having recorded 516 RBIs and 974 hits. Their batting average stands at .241, coupled with 529 runs scored and a team on-base percentage of .316.
St. Louis’ pitching staff owns a team ERA of 4.07, ranking 13th in the league, with 923 strikeouts recorded. The Cardinals have allowed 118 home runs and 530 runs overall, sitting 14th in baseball. Their pitchers have issued 412 walks, with a FIP of 4.10 this season. They have given up 1,036 hits (averaging 8.6 per 9 innings) and 489 earned runs, showcasing a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.24 and a WHIP of 1.34.
This season, the Cardinals have utilized 405 relief pitchers, inheriting 189 baserunners—36.0% of whom have scored. The bullpen boasts 79 holds (5th in MLB), with 128 appearances involving inherited runners. They have achieved 35 saves but have blown 22 out of 57 save opportunities, resulting in a save rate of 61.4% in 140 save chances.
Defensively, the St. Louis Cardinals have recorded 3,241 putouts, 1,139 assists, and 53 errors, yielding a fielding percentage of .988, which ranks 5th in Major League Baseball. They have turned 120 double plays and converted 69.4% of balls in play into outs across 9,723 innings, ranking 20th in the majors.
Matthew Liberatore has pitched for 447 innings throughout his career, accumulating 382 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.77 (237 earned runs allowed). His WHIP stands at 1.411, having surrendered 477 hits (9.6 hits per 9 innings) and issued 154 walks. Liberatore holds a career win-loss record of 21-33 and has faced 1,942 hitters in the majors, with a FIP of 4.70.
The Chicago Cubs, on the other hand, are operating with a .340 on-base percentage and a .250 batting average this season. They have been struck out 1,041 times (9th in MLB) and have a total of 1,044 hits. The Cubs have hit 155 home runs and recorded 597 RBIs, boasting a team slugging percentage of .421 while averaging 5.24 runs per game (2nd in MLB). They have obtained 205 doubles and drawn 519 walks, with 634 runs scored.
In terms of pitching, the Chicago Cubs have allowed 519 runs this season, with an ERA of 4.08, having conceded 490 earned runs. They have yielded 181 home runs and allow an average of 4.32 runs per 9 innings, ranking 10th in the league. The Cubs’ WHIP is 1.256, and their FIP is 4.65. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 7.70 (929 strikeouts versus 357 walks), placing them 20th in total hits allowed with 1,001.
The Cubs’ bullpen has seen a 30.5% inherited score rate from their 167 inherited runners. Relief pitchers have entered 119 times in high-leverage scenarios, with equal appearances involving baserunners. They have notched 44 holds and blown 19 saves out of 97 save opportunities, currently ranking 20th in MLB with a 59.6% save rate. Chicago has sent 389 relief pitchers to the mound this season.
Defensively, the Chicago Cubs have turned 94 double plays and maintain a .990 fielding percentage (2nd in MLB). They have recorded 1,129 assists, 46 errors, and achieved 3,245 putouts this season. With a defensive efficiency of 71.9% over 9,735 innings, they rank 3rd in Major League Baseball.
Holmes, throughout his MLB career, has allowed 442 hits while logging 490 strikeouts in 507 innings pitched. He has a record of 36-31, accompanied by a 3.69 ERA and yielding 7.8 hits per 9 innings. Holmes has given up 208 earned runs with a WHIP of 1.308 and a FIP of 3.6, displaying a K/BB ratio of 2.22 while facing 2,186 batters in his career.
What will be the outcome of tonight’s MLB matchup against the spread or moneyline?
Prediction: Back St. Louis (+126)
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