With two games to play, this Cardinals’ season series vs. the Cubs at Wrigley will go down among their worst ever.
The teams’ season-ending series continues with another 1:20 p.m. start Saturday afternoon at the park that has been anything but friendly to the Cardinals in 2025.
On Friday, the Cubs again pummeled St. Louis, winning 12-1 for their third win in four games vs. the Cardinals in Chicago this season.
St. Louis has allowed the Cubs to score 40 total runs in the four games this season in games played in Chicago.
Even if the Cardinals limit the Cubs to four runs per game in the final two games, Chicago will tie its highest-ever average scoring output vs. the Cardinals in a season series at Wrigley.
A huge chunk of that damage has come on via the homer.
The Cubs have hit 15 home runs in those four games, one short of their most in a season vs. the Cardinals at Wrigley. But those 16-homer seasons came in nine or 10 games.
Even if they don’t allow another Cubs home run this series, the Cardinals will set a new team worst for homers allowed per game at Wrigley in a season since 1969.
Rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy, Saturday’s starter for St. Louis, is the best-equipped Redbird to slow the Cubs’ barrage.
Since joining the rotation on July 21, McGreevy (8-3, 4.35 ERA) has the fewest home runs allowed per 9 innings pitched (1.03) among Cardinals starters. His 50.6% groundball rate is second only to Andre Pallante.
Despite making just his 16th start Saturday, he’ll finish with the most wins by a Cardinals rookie starter since Dakota Hudson, who had 16 in 2019.
The Cubs will send out veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon (10-7, 3.78 ERA). In three starts since a short stint on the injured list, Taillon has a 1.56 ERA.
The Cardinals are 78-82 and will finish with a losing record for the second time in three season, their first time doing so since the 1990s.
The Cubs are 90-70 and will face the Padres in the wild-card round. They need a win or a Padres loss this weekend to assure the series is played in Chicago.
How to watch Cardinals at Cubs
When: 1:20 p.m. Saturday
Where: Wrigley Field in Chicago
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (live stream link); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the Cardinals Radio Network as well as MLB.tv.
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, LF
2. Iván Herrera, DH
3. Alec Burleson, 1B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Nolan Gorman, 2B
6. Thomas Saggese, SS
7. Jimmy Crooks, C
8. Jordan Walker, RF
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Michael McGreevy, RHP
CUBS
To be updated
P: Jameson Taillon, RHP
Injury report
Willson Contreras, 1B (right bicep tightness): Contreras, who had been dealing with pain in his biceps for more than a week, went on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 17. The move ends his season, though he’s expected to be with the team at Wrigley Field for the final regular-season series. The biceps tightened up during an at-bat Monday, forcing him to leave the game early. He’s been prescribed rest to avoid a more significant tear or shoulder injury. Updated Sept. 22
Ivan Herrera, DH/C (right elbow pain): Herrera is expected to undergo surgery on his right elbow this offseason, manager Oliver Marmol confirmed before Sunday’s home season finale. The procedure will remove loose bodies in the joint. Herrera will then go through an offseason program emphasizing improving his throwing arm and calling games. He appeared in 14 games at catcher this season but has been used primarily as a designated hitter after two stints on the injured list because of a bone bruise in his left knee and a left hamstring strain. It is unclear if elbow surgery will alter Herrera’s offseason throwing program. Updated Sept. 21
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter remains on a throwing program in Jupiter, trying to overcome some setbacks as he increased the intensity of his throws through the course of the season. He’s visited St. Louis for evaluation to monitor if the injury worsens. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated Aug. 6
Masyn Winn, SS (right meniscus tear): The shortstop will have surgery Thursday in Dallas to repair slight damage to his meniscus that caused him pain for the closing months of the season. The recovery for the arthroscopic surgery is not expected to intrude on his preparation for the 2026 season. Winn planned to schedule the surgery after getting a second opinion. The Cardinals put Winn on the injured list on Sept. 13, ending his season. Updated Sept. 23
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