St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Predictions June 26th 2025

St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs June 26th 2025

The Chicago Cubs head to Busch Stadium to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in an afternoon game on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The game starts at 2:15 PM and will be broadcast on FDSMW. Weather conditions are expected to be very hot with a light breeze and broken clouds.

Leading the Cubs is manager Craig Counsell, with Dustin Kelly as the hitting coach and Tommy Hottovy as the pitching coach. The Cubs have a solid season record of 47-33, including a 22-18 road record. On the other side, the Cardinals, managed by Oliver Marmol, hold a 44-37 record and are 3 games back in the NL Central. Their home record stands at 26-16.

Cubs vs Cardinals Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• Venue: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
• Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
• Betting Odds: Cubs MoneyLine -139, Cardinals MoneyLine +116

The Cubs Can Win If…

The Chicago Cubs are coming off a strong 8-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals. Matthew Boyd led the way with six shutout innings, giving up only three hits. Kyle Tucker and Ian Happ each hit home runs, contributing to the Cubs’ 12-hit performance.

The Cubs have been solid at the plate this season, ranking third in batting average at .256. They also rank third in home runs with 118 and third in doubles with 141. This offensive strength gives them a good chance to win, especially against the Cardinals’ starter Andre Pallante, who has a 4.48 ERA.

Shota Imanaga will start for the Cubs, bringing a 2.82 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. His ability to keep runners off base can be a key factor in this game. If the Cubs’ offense continues to perform well, they have a solid opportunity to secure another win.

The Cardinals Can Win If…

The St. Louis Cardinals are set to take on the Chicago Cubs, hoping to bounce back from their recent 0-8 loss. In that game, the Cardinals struggled at the plate, managing only four hits. Despite the setback, players like Masyn Winn and Nolan Gorman showed their potential with solid hits.

Looking at the season stats, the Cardinals have a strong batting average of .255, ranking 4th in the league. They also rank 4th in doubles with 138, showing their ability to get runners in scoring position. This offensive strength gives them a good chance to put runs on the board against the Cubs.

Andre Pallante will start for the Cardinals, bringing a 5-3 record to the mound. He will aim to improve his 4.48 ERA and keep the Cubs’ bats in check. With a lineup featuring hitters like Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan, the Cardinals have the tools to secure a win in their next game.

The Lean

The Cubs are favored with a moneyline of -139 against the Cardinals at +116. The Cubs have strong hitting stats, ranking 3rd in batting average and home runs. Their pitching, with a 3.91 ERA, is slightly better than the Cardinals’ 4.02 ERA. My model projects a Cubs win with a score of 5-4.

The over/under line is set at 9.0. Both teams have solid hitting, with the Cubs ranking high in slugging and the Cardinals having a decent batting average. Given these stats, the projected total score is 9, which aligns with the line. I recommend taking the over, expecting a final score above 9.0.

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Cubs Count on Shota Imanaga’s Return to Finish Strong vs. Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs are eager to welcome back standout left-hander Shota Imanaga as they close out a four-game road series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon. Having dropped five of their last seven games, the Cubs are looking to build on Wednesday’s 8-0 shutout victory and secure a series split.

Imanaga (3-2, 2.82 ERA) will make his first start since May 4, when he exited with a hamstring strain. Before the injury, he had allowed two or fewer runs in six of his eight starts, quickly cementing himself as one of the top arms in baseball.

“I think we’re going to get a really good version of Shota back, which is super exciting, because he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball.”
— Jameson Taillon

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Imanaga’s return provides a major boost to a Cubs rotation that has been up and down recently. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy cautioned that Imanaga may need a bit of time to fully regain his rhythm but emphasized the value he brings both on and off the field.

“Just getting him back and having him back with the group of guys, what he brings to the table and just that consistent person he is, too, it’s awesome.”
— Tommy Hottovy

Imanaga has seen the Cardinals once before, holding them to two runs over 5 1/3 innings for a 3.29 ERA in his career against St. Louis.

Cardinals Adjust Lineup in Face of Injury, Left-Handed Matchup

To address their struggles against left-handed pitching, the Cardinals recently claimed utility man Garrett Hampson off waivers from Cincinnati. Hampson started in center field and batted ninth Wednesday, giving manager Oliver Marmol a speed threat and versatility on the basepaths.

“When he’s on the bases, pitchers know about it. They get a little concerned.”
— Nolan Arenado

Normally, the Cardinals would deploy Jordan Walker against a lefty like Imanaga, but Walker is sidelined with appendicitis and was placed on the 10-day IL. Infielder Jose Fermin was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in his place.

Right-hander Andre Pallante (5-3, 4.48 ERA) will start for St. Louis, coming off his strongest outing of the season—a six-inning shutout performance against the Reds. Despite that, he’s 0-2 in 10 career appearances (three starts) versus the Cubs, although his ERA in those games is a solid 2.45.

Series Finale Outlook

Thursday’s matchup is shaping up as a test of momentum versus recovery. The Cubs have a major weapon returning in Imanaga, while the Cardinals are retooling their lineup to counter southpaws. Both teams are jockeying for consistency as the season approaches its midpoint.

If you’re following this one from a betting angle, there’s great value in tracking MLB predictions and picks, especially given Imanaga’s return and Pallante’s recent form.

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