Sunday’s finale at Busch Stadium sets the stage for another charged chapter in the Cubs–Cardinals rivalry, with Chicago entering at 66–48 and intent on solidifying its hold on second place in the NL Central, while St. Louis, sitting at 58–58, fights to stay in postseason contention and seize momentum at home. The Cubs will turn to left-hander Shōta Imanaga (8–4, 3.12 ERA), whose game is built on surgical strike-zone command and late-breaking movement that can frustrate both left- and right-handed hitters. His primary task will be neutralizing Alec Burleson’s gap power, Willson Contreras’ ability to punish mistakes, and Masyn Winn’s speed-driven impact at the top or bottom of the order, all while avoiding free passes that could create early scoring opportunities for the Cardinals. St. Louis counters with Sonny Gray (10–5, 4.21 ERA), a veteran right-hander who thrives on mixing pitches, limiting hard contact, and working efficiently, but who will need to navigate a Cubs offense ranked second in the NL at 5.2 runs per game. Chicago’s lineup poses threats across the board, with Seiya Suzuki’s ability to change the game with one swing, Ian Happ’s blend of contact and baserunning pressure, and Kyle Tucker’s patience and on-base skills setting the tone.

Their offensive plan will likely center on attacking early-count mistakes, grinding out at-bats to elevate Gray’s pitch count, and forcing the Cardinals into middle relief before the late innings. For the Cardinals, run production will hinge on disciplined at-bats from Burleson, Contreras, and Winn, with situational power and opportunistic baserunning serving as the tools to chip away at leads. Defensively, the Cubs must be airtight in double-play execution and sharp on relay throws to halt St. Louis’ advancement game, while the Cardinals must anticipate and cut off Chicago’s extra-base threats to keep innings from snowballing. The bullpen battle could be decisive — Chicago’s relief corps has been inconsistent but capable of stringing together shutdown innings in close games, while St. Louis’ late-inning arms have generally managed traffic well, aided by Busch Stadium’s pitcher-friendly dimensions. Expect managers to lean heavily on late-game moves — pinch-hitting for matchups, defensive replacements for run prevention, and carefully timed pitching changes — knowing that one decision could tip the balance. With Chicago’s 45–47 ATS mark on the road contrasting with St. Louis’ stronger home trends, this matchup is primed to be a tightly contested, low- to mid-scoring affair in which a single high-leverage swing or perfectly executed defensive play could decide the series outcome and shape the momentum heading into the season’s decisive stretch.