The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals on September 26, 2025. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on MLB Network.
Find my MLB betting preview and Cardinals vs Cubs prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
My Cardinals vs Cubs Prediction
- Cardinals vs Cubs pick: Over 9 (play to 9.5)
My Cardinals vs Cubs best bet is on the over total runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cardinals vs Cubs Odds
| Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -135 | 9 100o / -120u | +150 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +115 | 9 100o / -120u | -180 |
Cardinals vs Cubs Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Miles Mikolas (STL) | Stat | TBD (CHC) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-10 | W-L | — |
| 0.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | — |
| 4.76/5.32 | ERA /xERA | — |
| 4.88/4.85 | FIP / xFIP | — |
| 1.33 | WHIP | — |
| 9.2% | K-BB% | — |
| 40.2% | GB% | — |
| 89 | Stuff+ | — |
| 107 | Location+ | — |
Sean Paul’s Cardinals vs Cubs Preview
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview: Offense Leaning on Select Hot Bats
The Cardinals will send the veteran, Miles Mikolas, to the mound. Mikolas has endured a bumpy final season in St. Louis, posting a 4.76 ERA with a 5.32 xERA and a 4.88 FIP.
Over his past seven starts, Mikolas has pitched to a 4.02 ERA. Luck has been on his side, however, as his xERA is a 6.09 and his FIP is a 5.13 in that span. He just doesn’t miss any bats (4.94 K/9 in last seven starts) and walks 2.34 batters per nine.
In September, the Cardinals have the 20th-best wRC+ in MLB. I don't love their approach, as they have a 7.3% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate in that span, both of which rank near the bottom of the league. The strength of Cards offense isn't power, hitting 14 homers in September with Ivan Herrera accounting for eight of the 14.
The Cardinals' offense is more equipped to handle right-handed pitching than left-handed arms. Both Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson have a wRC+ better than 150 this month, but neither hit lefties well. So, facing a righty is a favorable matchup for the two lefties who seldom punch out.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview: Lineup Reinforcements Could Spark Offense
The Cubs haven't announced a starter for Friday, but it would line up for Javier Assad to start. If he does indeed draw the start, I feel even better about the over. Assad isn't too different from Mikolas — as Assad has a 4.26 ERA with a 5.06 xERA and 4.72 FIP. But the similarities don't end with the ugly numbers; he also has a 4.83 K/9 and 3.13 BB/9 in 31 1/3 innings.
So, it's a good thing if the Cubs let him start for over betting purposes. He's due for some real regression.
It sounds like the Cubs will get some offensive reinforcements on Friday, with Kyle Tucker potentially returning. He might have some rust after not seeing big-league pitching for the past few weeks, but he was scalding hot before hitting the IL.
This pitching matchup is perfect for Chicago. Mikolas could struggle against the very patient Cubs, who boast a 10.5% walk rate in September. That approach has helped the Cubs rebound from a tough August to rank ninth in wRC+ this month.
Seven hitters on Chicago's roster boast a wRC+ better than 105 (in September), and Moises Ballesteros emerging as a top-of-the-order bat is a nice shot in the arm. He offers elite plate discipline and is hitting over .330 with a 183 wRC+ in his last 42 ABs. Add Tucker to an already good offense, and some good offensive days could be in store.
Cardinals vs Cubs Prediction, Betting Analysis
You shouldn't have any faith in Mikolas or Assad (if he starts). Both are heavy-regression candidates and Mikolas alone could allow a healthy amount of runs to an offense that's performed well lately.
Neither team has much to play for at this point, but in baseball, it's too hard to mail it in. So, I'd expect good offensive performances from both teams here.
Pick: Over 9 (+100, bet365; play to 9.5)
Cardinals vs Cubs Betting Trends
