The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are set to clash once again in one of baseball’s oldest and most tradition-rich rivalries on June 23, 2025, at Busch Stadium, in a key NL Central showdown that carries more than just bragging rights. Both clubs are firmly in the hunt for postseason positioning, and this matchup arrives at a pivotal time, with the Cubs riding a wave of early-season success and the Cardinals battling back from an uneven start to push toward Wild Card territory. The Cubs enter with a roster balanced by experienced contributors like Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ alongside emerging talents such as Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who have given their offense extra spark and versatility. Their starting pitching has been a steady asset, likely turning to someone like Javier Assad or Jameson Taillon to start the series, both of whom have been dependable at limiting hard contact and minimizing free passes. The Cubs’ bullpen, featuring strong middle relief and a capable closer, has excelled at maintaining slim leads and converting late-game pressure into outs. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have leaned heavily on veterans Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado to lead a resurgent lineup that has recently begun to deliver in key situations. Their projected starter, perhaps Erick Fedde or a similar mid-rotation arm, has done well by pitching to contact and allowing the Cardinals’ reliable defense to control the tempo of games.

Defensively, St. Louis holds the edge in efficiency, ranking among the NL’s best in fielding percentage and defensive runs saved, which pairs well with their contact-oriented pitching philosophy. Both teams boast above-average team OBP and SLG numbers, suggesting that offensive output may be steady but not overwhelming, and the key battleground will likely be the middle innings, where managerial decisions and bullpen usage could determine the outcome. Historically, these rivalry games tend to be tightly contested and low scoring, often decided by one or two plays in the later innings, especially at Busch Stadium where the crowd intensity elevates the stakes. The Cubs’ recent road form has been respectable, and they’ve covered the run line in several tough road matchups, while the Cardinals have been profitable ATS at home, particularly when favored in divisional contests. Given the matchup of solid starters, dependable bullpens, and lineups capable of stringing together multi-hit innings, this game could be another installment of tense, playoff-style baseball. The outcome may hinge on who capitalizes with runners in scoring position, which team plays the cleaner game defensively, and whether either offense can deliver a timely home run to tilt the balance. Expect a grind-it-out type of game, with momentum swinging on managerial bullpen calls and defensive execution, making this a must-watch battle between two bitter rivals with plenty at stake.