The Chicago Cubs (90-70) host the St. Louis Cardinals (78-82) Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field with Seiya Suzuki riding a two-game home run streak. The Cubs enter as solid -173 favorites for this 2:20 p.m. ET rivalry matchup that could help solidify their strong late-season momentum.<\/p>\n
Date:<\/strong> Saturday, September 27, 2025 Jameson Taillon takes the mound for his 23rd start with a 10-7 record and 3.78 ERA across 123\u2154 innings. His 90 strikeouts show steady effectiveness, and pitching at Wrigley should give him the familiarity advantage in this division rivalry game.<\/p>\n Taillon’s experience in big games makes him a reliable choice for this important late-season contest.<\/p>\n The Cardinals send Michael McGreevy to the hill for his 16th start, carrying an 8-3 record. The young pitcher has shown promise this season and gets another chance to prove himself against a quality Cubs lineup.<\/p>\n McGreevy will need to navigate Chicago’s balanced offense that’s been clicking throughout September.<\/p>\n Suzuki enters Saturday riding momentum from homers in consecutive games. With 30 home runs and 101 RBIs while batting .244, he’s been Chicago’s most consistent run producer. His recent power display suggests he could be primed for another big performance.<\/p>\n Nico Hoerner leads the team with a .300 batting average, providing the consistent contact that sets up scoring opportunities. Kyle Tucker contributes 133 hits with a .471 slugging percentage, while Pete Crow-Armstrong adds 143 hits with solid production.<\/p>\n The Cubs rank 5th in baseball with 784 runs scored while maintaining excellent plate discipline, striking out just 7.9 times per game (6th in MLB).<\/p>\n Alec Burleson leads St. Louis with a .292 batting average, while Brendan Donovan and Ivan Herrera both contribute at .287. Lars Nootbaar adds patience with 63 walks despite a .235 average.<\/p>\n The Cardinals’ 4.3 runs per game shows they can compete offensively, though they lack the consistent power of Chicago’s lineup with just 146 home runs (29th in MLB).<\/p>\n The Cubs hold clear edges in several key areas:<\/p>\n Chicago’s superior offensive production and pitching staff give them meaningful advantages.<\/p>\n The Cubs have been excellent as heavy favorites this season, going 25-10 (71.4%) when favored by odds similar to Saturday’s -173. Their overall record as favorites stands at 72-114 (63.2%).<\/p>\n The Cardinals have struggled as heavy underdogs, going just 5-16 when facing odds of +144 or worse. This trend doesn’t favor St. Louis in Saturday’s matchup.<\/p>\n The 9.5-run total reflects both teams’ offensive capabilities, though the Cardinals’ limited power production might keep scoring manageable.<\/p>\n Cubs:<\/strong> Miguel Amaya remains on the 10-day IL, while Cade Horton is day-to-day with back issues affecting rotation depth.<\/p>\n Cardinals:<\/strong> Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras both remain on the 10-day IL, limiting St. Louis’s lineup options.<\/p>\n Cubs-Cardinals games always carry extra meaning, regardless of standings. Playing at Wrigley Field with a chance to reach 91 wins should provide Chicago with additional motivation.<\/p>\n Final Score: Cubs 6, Cardinals 4<\/strong> Suzuki’s hot streak, combined with Chicago’s home field advantage and superior offensive depth, should prove decisive. The Cubs’ excellent record as heavy favorites suggests they handle expectations well in these situations.<\/p>\n While both teams can score runs, the Cardinals’ limited power production and the Cubs’ solid pitching staff should keep this game under the inflated 9.5-run total. Taillon’s veteran presence gives Chicago the pitching edge they need to control this rivalry matchup.<\/p>\n The Cubs should continue their strong September play while adding another chapter to this historic rivalry.<\/p>\n Go Cubs goo!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Chicago Cubs (90-70) host the St. Louis Cardinals (78-82) Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field with Seiya Suzuki riding a two-game home run streak. The Cubs enter as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2279,"featured_media":417140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16757],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-417139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nTime:<\/strong> 2:20 p.m. ET \/ 1:20 p.m. CT
\nLocation:<\/strong> Wrigley Field, Chicago
\nTV Coverage:<\/strong> Marquee Sports Network, Fox Sports Midwest
\nBetting Lines:<\/strong> Cubs -173, Cardinals +144
\nRun Total:<\/strong> 9.5 runs
\nSpread:<\/strong> Cubs -1.5<\/p>\nPitching Matchup: Taillon vs McGreevy<\/h2>\n
Jameson Taillon Brings Veteran Experience<\/h3>\n
Michael McGreevy Gets Opportunity<\/h3>\n
Cubs Offense: Suzuki Leading the Charge<\/h2>\n
Seiya Suzuki’s Power Surge<\/h3>\n
Supporting Cast Provides Balance<\/h3>\n
Cardinals Looking to Play Spoiler<\/h2>\n
Balanced Offensive Attack<\/h3>\n
Statistical Advantages Favor Chicago<\/h2>\n
\n
Betting Analysis<\/h2>\n
Key Injuries<\/h2>\n
Rivalry Factor<\/h2>\n
Game Prediction<\/h2>\n
\nTotal: Under 9.5 runs<\/strong><\/p>\n