The St. Louis Cardinals will host the division-leading Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on June 26, 2025, with renewed energy as they continue their push to climb the NL Central standings and re-establish themselves as legitimate contenders. Coming into this matchup with a 42–38 record, the Cardinals have turned a corner in June after a sluggish start to the season, thanks in part to the resurgent form of their pitching staff and the steady offensive output from Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. Sonny Gray is expected to get the start for St. Louis, and the veteran right-hander has remained a consistent force, posting a sub-3.00 ERA while giving the team deep outings and minimizing free passes, traits that will be critical against a Cubs team that grinds out at-bats and puts pressure on pitchers. Gray’s ability to command both sides of the plate with his cutter and curveball should be a key asset in keeping hitters like Morel and Suzuki off-balance, while the Cardinals’ infield defense, anchored by Arenado’s Gold Glove talent at third, gives them a solid foundation against a contact-heavy lineup. At the plate, St. Louis has benefitted from a breakout stretch by Brendan Donovan, whose recent multi-hit games and clutch plate appearances have bolstered the middle of the order, and with rookie Masyn Winn showing flashes of brilliance and speed on the basepaths, the Cardinals have become a more dynamic team offensively.

Their recent success has also been driven by improved plate discipline and better situational hitting, turning early-season double plays and strikeouts into productive outs and extended innings. In close games, St. Louis has performed admirably, going 10–5 in one-run contests over the past month, often leaning on their bullpen duo of Ryan Helsley and JoJo Romero to lock down tight leads. Helsley, in particular, has emerged as one of the league’s most reliable closers with upper-90s velocity and a lethal slider that has stifled even the best bats in the National League. The team also plays with a noticeable chip on its shoulder when facing the Cubs, with manager Oliver Marmol often pressing the right buttons to generate big innings and execute situational baseball when it matters most. Busch Stadium’s atmosphere always elevates for these matchups, and with the Cardinals eyeing a potential series win to narrow the divisional gap, expect an aggressive approach on both sides of the ball. Whether it’s deploying the hit-and-run, bunting for base hits, or testing the Cubs’ middle relief, St. Louis has a blueprint to frustrate their rival and steal momentum. If Sonny Gray delivers another quality start and the offense continues its upward trend, the Cardinals could make a strong statement in front of a home crowd hungry to see their team back in playoff position.