Cubs vs. Cardinals: A Red-Hot NL Central Rivalry That’s Dead Even

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are about to light up Wrigley Field for a three-game NL Central series that has serious October vibes. And here’s the kicker: the season series is dead even at 5-5.

The Cubs enter with a 71-51 record and a bruising 35-24 mark at home. They’ve won eight of their last ten, and when they score at least five runs, they’re a ridiculous 58-9. That’s not a trend. That’s a warning.

The Cardinals aren’t just showing up to wave hello, though. St. Louis sits at 61-60, is 29-26 on the road, and is a stellar 42-21 when they rack up eight or more hits. They’ve also won seven of their last ten while matching the Cubs by outscoring opponents by 19 runs over that stretch.

Pitching Preview

The Cardinals hand the ball to lefty Matthew Liberatore, who comes in at 5-9 with a 5.15 ERA and 110 strikeouts. The Cubs counter with Clay Holmes, the steadier arm on the mound: 4-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 46 strikeouts. If Holmes keeps St. Louis off balance, Wrigley will be absolutely buzzing.

Stars to Watch

Pete Crow-Armstrong has been doing ridiculous things for Chicago — 24 doubles, seven triples, 27 home runs and 73 RBI. Alex Bregman has been locked in too, going 14-for-42 with five homers and 14 RBI over his last ten games.

For St. Louis, Jordan Walker is the main threat, leading the team with 23 homers and slugging .489. Ivan Herrera has also caught fire, hitting 13-for-43 with five doubles, a home run and five RBI in his last ten.

What’s at Stake

This isn’t some August filler series. The Cardinals are scrapping to stay above .500 and climb the NL Central. The Cubs are looking up at the division lead and need every win they can stack. With the series tied 5-5 and both teams swinging hot bats, this one could come down to the wire.

First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. EDT Friday, with the total sitting at 8 runs. Buckle up — rivalry baseball is here.