Cubs Aim to Secure Postseason Spot Against Cardinals

On September 26, 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals faced off against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, kicking off the final three-game series of the regular MLB season for both clubs. This matchup carried significant implications for the Cubs’ postseason aspirations, while the Cardinals, recently eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the San Francisco Giants, began to look ahead to the 2026 campaign. The afternoon started with the Cubs, who entered the game with a 90-70 record and a 65.1% win probability according to ESPN Analytics, focused on securing their spot atop the NL Wild Card standings. With the San Diego Padres trailing by just two games and holding the tiebreaker, every win was critical for Chicago to lock in home-field advantage for the Wild Card round. The Cardinals, at 78-82, were playing for pride and the opportunity to assess prospects like JJ Wetherholt, who posted a .306 average with 17 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 23 steals at AAA and could be a key figure in the lineup next spring. Pitching matchups set the tone for this contest. Miles Mikolas started for St. Louis, entering with an 8-10 record and a 4.76 ERA. His previous outing against the Cubs on July 4th was rough, surrendering 10 hits and six home runs over six innings, but his September performance had stabilized with a 2-0 record and a 3.00 ERA over four starts. On the mound for Chicago was Colin Rea, who came in at 10-7 with a 4.10 ERA and a strong recent trend, posting a 2.60 ERA across his last three outings. Rea had been particularly effective against the Cardinals this season, allowing just a single run in each of his two starts against them. From a betting perspective, the Cubs were favored across the board: -184 on the moneyline, -1.5 on the run line (+104 odds), and the over/under was set at 9 runs. Expert predictions leaned toward the Cubs, thanks to their deeper lineup and Rea’s advantage over Mikolas, with the most common forecasts calling for a 5-4 or 6-3 Chicago victory. CBS Sports and FOX Sports both highlighted the Cubs’ urgency as a key factor. Lineups for the Cardinals featured Lars Nootbaar, Iván Herrera, Alec Burleson, and veteran Nolan Arenado, while the Cubs welcomed back Kyle Tucker from the injured list, slotting him into the cleanup spot behind Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ. Notably, Hoerner contributed a solo home run—his seventh of the season—adding to his reputation as a reliable bat in the Cubs’ infield. While the Cardinals have already shifted their focus to the future and prospects like Wetherholt, the Cubs’ postseason trajectory hinges on closing out the series strong. With the Wild Card race tightening and every run critical, Chicago’s blend of returning stars and surging pitchers like Rea could make the difference as they aim to keep San Diego at bay and secure October baseball at Wrigley Field.