Timing Favors the North Siders
The Cubs might be facing the Cardinals at exactly the right time. St. Over the past three weeks, Louis has experienced a free fall. The Cardinals are 3-7 since the All-Star break, according to Bleed Cubbie Blue. They are also 6-13 since they defeated the Cubs on the Fourth of July. In contrast, the Cubs are 10-6 since that loss in July. With nearly no offensive output, the team is spiraling downward. This timing could not be better for Chicago fans. The rivalry is fierce, but the momentum is shifting.
St. Although Louis remains officially in the Wild Card race, the situation is not genuine. The Cubs will be playing St. Louis at the perfect time for Chicago. That is the view from the community at Viva el Birdos. They expect the Cardinals to make moves before the trade deadline. President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom will likely move Lars Nootbaar, JoJo Romero, and Dustin May. Potential stars are lurking in Memphis, and Bloom will make room for them. This leaves the current roster thin and vulnerable.
Pitching Matchups and Rivalry History
The pitching staff offers some bright spots for St. Louis. Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy, and Michael McGreevy have all been strong. Following the break, Hunter Dobbins delivered an excellent performance versus the Angels. However, Matthew Liberatore might need to go to the bullpen or Memphis. Dustin May just finished a solid start that the Cardinals failed to support with any runs. He will almost definitely depart prior to the trade deadline. For the Cardinals, the trade deadline is probably the primary focus..
Historical stats show a tough road for the Cubs in St. Louis. The Cubs have not swept a series at St. Louis since Sept. 13-15, 2010. This is their 41st series there since then. They have lost 10 of the last 40 series by being swept. The most recent sweep happened Sept. 2-4, 2022. The Cubs’ 2,532 total games vs. Against any opponent, the Cardinals are their second most frequent victim. Across all those contests, the Cubs outscored the Cards by precisely two runs. They lead the rivalry with 1,283 wins compared to 1,230, yet hold a 567-677 record at St. Louis.
What to Expect on the Mound
Monday’s game features David Peterson against Matthew Liberatore. Peterson is 2-1 with a 5.57 ERA in four starts with the Cubs. His overall numbers show a 5.97 ERA and a 1.562 WHIP. Liberatore is 5-7 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.515 WHIP. Tuesday’s matchup pairs Colin Rea with Michael McGreevy. Rea is 7-7 with a 4.85 ERA. McGreevy has been strong for the Cardinals recently. The Cubs need to capitalize on these starters.
Minor league prospects are also making noise for the organization. Luis Martinez-Gomez just dominated the Rocket City Trash Pandas. He pitched six innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Martinez-Gomez struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked no one. His career high for strikeouts before tonight was just seven. He blew past that record easily. Carter Trice hit a solo home run to give the Smokies the lead for good. It was Trice’s 12th home run this year. These young players are ready to step up if needed.
The Cubs have a real chance to break the losing streak in St. Louis. The Cardinals are struggling to score runs. The Cubs have found some rhythm on offense. The series starts Monday with two lefties on the mound. The history is tough, but the current form favors Chicago. Fans should expect a gritty battle at Busch Stadium. The next few days will define the Cubs’ late-season push.
