Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals July 4th 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals will take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, July 4, 2025. The game is set to start at 2:20 PM and will be shown on APLTV. The weather forecast indicates a very hot day with a light breeze and overcast clouds.
The Cardinals, managed by Oliver Marmol, hold a record of 47-41 this season. On the other side, the Cubs, led by Craig Counsell, have a record of 52-35. Starting on the mound for the Cardinals is Miles Mikolas, while Colin Rea will pitch for the Cubs.
Cardinals vs Cubs Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs
- Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
- Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
- Betting Odds: Cardinals Moneyline +132, Cubs Moneyline -156
The Cardinals Can Win If…
The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to bounce back after a tough 0-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that game, Sonny Gray pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing 4 earned runs and striking out six. Despite the loss, Alec Burleson showed promise with a double, and Brendan Donovan added another double to the team’s effort.
For the season, the Cardinals have a batting average of .253, ranking 7th in the league. They are also 3rd in doubles with 151, which shows they can get extra-base hits. With a solid lineup featuring Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson, they have the potential to score runs.
Miles Mikolas will start for the Cardinals with an ERA of 4.76. He has a chance to improve his record against the Cubs. With the Cardinals’ ability to hit doubles and Mikolas on the mound, they have a good chance to win this game.
The Cubs Can Win If…
The Chicago Cubs secured a 1-0 win against the Cleveland Guardians in their last game. Cade Horton was key, pitching 7 innings with no runs allowed. Dansby Swanson also contributed with two hits, helping the team maintain their winning streak.
The Cubs have strong stats this season, ranking 5th in batting average and on-base percentage. Their slugging percentage is 4th, and they have hit 125 home runs, placing them 5th. These stats show their ability to perform offensively and score runs.
Colin Rea will start for the Cubs, with a 4.37 ERA and a 5-3 record. The Cubs’ lineup includes Seiya Suzuki, who leads the team with 23 home runs and 73 RBIs. With players like Suzuki and a solid pitcher like Rea, the Cubs have a good chance to win the next game.
The Lean
The Cubs are favored with a moneyline of -156, while the Cardinals are at +132. The Cubs have a slightly better batting average and on-base percentage, ranking 5th in both categories. Their pitching also has a lower ERA at 3.80 compared to the Cardinals’ 3.96. Based on these factors, the recommendation is to pick the Cubs to win straight up.
The total for the game is set at 10.0 with the over at -106 and the under at -115. Both teams have strong hitting, with the Cubs ranking 4th in slugging percentage and the Cardinals 16th. However, both teams also have solid pitching. The model projects a total score close to 9, so the recommendation is to take the under 10.0.
Cardinals Face Crossroads in Series Opener vs. First-Place Cubs
With the July 31 trade deadline looming, the St. Louis Cardinals are at a crossroads. They’ll begin a crucial three-game series on Friday that could very well determine the direction of their season as they visit their National League Central rivals, the first-place Chicago Cubs.
A Series That “Can Go Either Way”
The St. Louis Cardinals are hovering around the wild-card picture, but are coming off a disastrous series where they were swept and shut out in three straight games by the Pirates. Friday’s starting pitcher, veteran Miles Mikolas, understands the gravity of this weekend’s series in Chicago.
“If this series goes well, maybe you’re in the situation where you’re looking to make that good hard push,” Mikolas said. “And if things don’t go well, you could be one of those teams looking to bring those young guys up. Can definitely go either way… Makes each game feel a little more important.”
The Surging Cubs
While the Cardinals are at a crossroads, the Cubs are surging. They have won six of their last eight games and just completed a three-game sweep of the Guardians, capped by a walk-off sacrifice fly from Matt Shaw on Thursday. The team is also celebrating the news that two of their players, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and right fielder Seiya Suzuki, have been named starters for the NL All-Star team.
“He’s having a wonderful season, and we’re all happy for him that he got this recognition,” manager Craig Counsell said of Crow-Armstrong.
A Duel of Veteran Right-Handers
Friday’s pitching matchup features two veterans. The Cardinals will send out Mikolas (4-5, 4.76 ERA), who has been struggling badly with a 6.90 ERA over his last six starts. The Cubs will counter with Colin Rea (5-3, 4.37 ERA), who is coming off a solid bounce-back performance against the Astros. This pitching matchup will be a key focus on the scores and odds board.
Rivalry Implications
The pressure heading into the trade deadline is a key factor for many MLB teams, and this series could have a major impact on the NL Central landscape. The importance of these divisional games is a key topic in our expert betting guide. To see who our experts think will win this crucial opener, check out our daily MLB picks.