The Cardinals and Cubs play the first game of their three-game series on Friday, July 3.
Chicago is a -126 moneyline favorite, while St. Louis is +105 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Cardinals vs. Cubs game.
Cardinals vs. Cubs prediction, preview
It’s a fresh start for David Peterson, who was recently traded to the Cubs from the Mets. He had some solid years, notably in 2024, but he completely fell apart lately, amassing a 6.09 ERA across 16 appearances (eight starts) and 68 innings with New York this season. There’s hope in Chicago that he can return to a quality pitcher every five games. His first game with the Cubs was against the Brewers—a tough task—and he allowed two earned runs and five hits in 5.2 innings. That’s fairly good considering his previous outings in New York.
His Cubs’ debut was his longest start of the season with him previously capping out at 5.1 in his season debut on March 28. It’s unlikely that he becomes an ace that pitches deep into games, but the hope is that he can hit six frames occasionally to give the bullpen some rest. While with the Mets, he faced the Cardinals once this season, allowing six earned runs and seven hits in 3.2 innings on June 10.
Since he faced this lineup not too long ago, it’s possible that he bounces back. It’s difficult to dominate a starter twice in a short span, but there are always exceptions, especially for struggling pitchers. The good news for Peterson is that St. Louis is an average offense in terms of batting average and runs scored.
Andre Pallante is starting for the Cardinals following a brutal outing against the Marlins. Miami posted five earned runs and 11 hits against St. Louis’ right-hander in 6.2 innings. His 3.83 ERA this season is much more confidence-inducing than anything Peterson has done this year. The problem is Chicago’s offense. The Cubs rank in the top five for runs, RBI, total bases, walks and OPS. They rank in the top 10 for home runs and hits.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Pick, Best Bet
Although Peterson performed better in his Cubs’ debut, his season hasn’t been good whatsoever. It’ll be up to a strong Cubs’ offense to win this game, but I don’t believe Pallante struggles in back-to-back outings.
