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The Cubs arrive in St. Louis carrying genuine momentum and a clear sense of where they stand in the NL Central race. At 60-46, Chicago has won six of its last ten and is playing with the confidence of a team that knows it belongs near the top. The Cardinals, sitting at .500 at 53-53, have dropped seven of their last ten and need to find something — anything — to reverse a slide that has them watching the division from a distance.

Pete Crow-Armstrong has been one of the most dynamic players in the National League, with 23 home runs, 70 runs scored, 114 hits, and 26 stolen bases. He is the kind of player who can change a game in multiple ways. For St. Louis, Jordan Walker has quietly put together a productive season — 22 home runs and 77 RBI — and represents the Cardinals’ best chance to make Chicago’s pitching uncomfortable. Colin Rea gets the ball for the Cubs, while St. Louis has yet to name a starter, adding a layer of uncertainty to the home side’s preparation.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals Game Information

Game Date: July 28, 2026
Game Time: 07:45 PM ET
TV Channel: Marquee Sports Network and St. Louis Cardinals
Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

The Cubs sit six games back in the NL Central and currently hold the top NL Wild Card spot, which means every game against a division opponent carries real weight. The Cardinals, 13 games back, are not in a position to make a division run, but a series against a contender offers a chance to play spoiler and rebuild some confidence after a brutal stretch. For Chicago, protecting that wild card position while chipping away at the division gap makes this a game with stakes on multiple levels.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 53-53
Home Record: 27-30
Away Record: 26-23
Division Record: 16-16
Streak: 2 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .500

Chicago Cubs Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 60-46
Home Record: 30-22
Away Record: 30-24
Division Record: 16-14
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .566

Stat Leaders

St. Louis Cardinals (53-53, #4 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Alec Burleson, 0.286
RBI Leader: Jordan Walker, 77 RBI
Home Run Leader: Jordan Walker, 22 HR
Runs Leader: JJ Wetherholt, 67 Runs
Hits Leader: Alec Burleson, 116 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Jordan Walker, 14 SB
ERA Leader: Ryan Fernandez, 2.70 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Dustin May, 103 K
Wins Leader: Andre Pallante, 11 W
Saves Leader: Riley O’Brien, 26 SV

Chicago Cubs (60-46, #2 in division)

Batting Average Leader: James Triantos, 1.000
RBI Leader: Dansby Swanson, 61 RBI
Home Run Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 23 HR
Runs Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 70 Runs
Hits Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 114 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 26 SB
ERA Leader: Ben Brown, 1.85 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Shota Imanaga, 113 K
Wins Leader: Shota Imanaga, 7 W
Saves Leader: Jacob Webb, 5 SV

What to Watch For

Colin Rea takes the mound for Chicago with a 4.86 ERA and seven wins on the season. He has not been dominant, but the Cubs have won enough around him to keep him relevant in the rotation. With Ben Brown on the injured list with a neck issue and Edward Cabrera also sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Cubs need Rea to give them length and keep the bullpen fresh.

On the offensive side, Seiya Suzuki (.264, 18 HR, 58 RBI) and Michael Busch (13 HR, 56 RBI) give Chicago a middle-of-the-order punch that has been consistent all season. Nico Hoerner adds steadiness at the top with 106 hits and 14 stolen bases.

For St. Louis, JJ Wetherholt has scored 67 runs and has shown a knack for coming through in big moments. Alec Burleson is hitting .286 with 116 hits, providing the Cardinals with one of their more reliable bats. With the Cardinals yet to name a starter, how long their opener can hold Chicago’s lineup in check may well determine the outcome.

St. Louis Cardinals Injury Report

Ramón Urías – Elbow (D60) – The St. Louis Cardinals transferred INF Ramón Urías to the 60-day injured list due to right elbow lateral epicondylitis.
JoJo Romero – Appendix (D15) – The St. Louis Cardinals placed LHP JoJo Romero on the 15-day injured list with appendicitis.
Max Rajcic – Elbow (D60) – The St. Louis Cardinals transferred RHP Max Rajcic from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a right elbow soreness.

Chicago Cubs Injury Report

Cade Horton – Forearm (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transferred RHP Cade Horton to the 60-day injured list due right forearm discomfort.
Hunter Harvey – Tricep (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transferred RHP Hunter Harvey to the 60-day injured list with right triceps inflammation.
Riley Martin – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transferred LHP Riley Martin from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to left elbow flexor strain.
Daniel Palencia – Elbow (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Edward Cabrera – Hamstring (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
Matt Shaw – Hand (D10) – The Chicago Cubs placed OF Matt Shaw on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained left hand.
Tyler Austin – Knee (D60) – The Chicago Cubs placed INF Tyler Austin on the 60-day injured list due to a right knee injury.
Justin Steele – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs placed LHP Justin Steele on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow injury.
Ethan Roberts – Forearm (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ethan Roberts on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm inflammation.
Phil Maton – Knee (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list.
Porter Hodge – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transaferred RHP Porter Hodge to the 60-day injured list with a right elbow strain.
Hoby Milner – Appendicitis (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed LHP Hoby Milner on the 15-day injured list due to Appendicitis.
Ben Brown – Neck (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain.
Shelby Miller – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Shelby Miller on the 60-day injured list due to a right elbow UCL injury.

St. Louis Cardinals Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 28, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 29, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 30, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 31, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
August 01, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
August 02, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
August 03, 2026 at New York Yankees
August 04, 2026 at New York Yankees
August 05, 2026 at New York Yankees
August 07, 2026 vs Colorado Rockies

Chicago Cubs Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 28, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 29, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 30, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 31, 2026 vs New York Yankees
August 01, 2026 vs New York Yankees
August 02, 2026 vs New York Yankees
August 03, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
August 04, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
August 05, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
August 06, 2026 vs Toronto Blue Jays

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.