The Chicago Cubs (91-70) wrap up their series against the St. Louis Cardinals (78-83) Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field with Michael Busch riding momentum from a two-homer performance in his last game. The Cubs enter as solid -169 favorites for this 3:20 p.m. ET rivalry matchup that could help solidify their strong late-season positioning.<\/p>\n
Date:<\/strong> Sunday, September 28, 2025 Javier Assad takes the mound for his seventh start of the season with a 3-1 record and 4.26 ERA across 31\u2154 innings. While his limited innings create some uncertainty, Assad has shown flashes of quality when given opportunities.<\/p>\n This represents exactly the type of spot where Assad can build confidence and show he belongs in the Cubs’ future plans.<\/p>\n The Cardinals send Kyle Leahy to the hill for his first start of the season. Making a debut start in a rivalry game at Wrigley Field represents a significant challenge for the young pitcher.<\/p>\n Leahy will need to navigate a Cubs lineup that’s been productive throughout the season, particularly at home.<\/p>\n Busch enters Sunday riding high after his two-homer performance last time out. Leading the team with 34 home runs while driving in 90 runs and slugging .526, he’s been one of Chicago’s most consistent power threats. His recent surge suggests he could be primed for another big performance.<\/p>\n Nico Hoerner leads the team with a .297 batting average, providing consistent contact that sets up scoring opportunities. Kyle Tucker contributes 22 home runs and 73 RBIs, while Pete Crow-Armstrong adds 145 hits with solid production.<\/p>\n The Cubs rank 4th in baseball with 791 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 .290 batting average, while Brendan Donovan and Ivan Herrera both contribute solid production. Lars Nootbaar adds patience with 64 walks despite a .234 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 148 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 27-13 (67.5%) when favored by odds similar to Sunday’s -169. Their overall record as favorites stands at 73-42 (63.5%).<\/p>\n The Cardinals have struggled significantly as heavy underdogs, going just 9-17 when facing odds of +140 or worse. This trend strongly favors Chicago.<\/p>\n Cubs:<\/strong> Miguel Amaya remains on the 10-day IL, while Cade Horton has been moved to the 15-day IL with rib issues.<\/p>\n Cardinals:<\/strong> Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras both remain on the 10-day IL, limiting St. Louis’s lineup options for the series finale.<\/p>\n Cubs-Cardinals games always carry extra intensity, especially at Wrigley Field. With Chicago in position for a strong playoff seed, this represents an opportunity to send a message while finishing the regular season strongly.<\/p>\n Final Score: Cubs 7, Cardinals 3<\/strong> Busch’s hot streak, combined with Chicago’s home field advantage and statistical superiority, should prove decisive. The Cubs’ excellent record as heavy favorites suggests they handle expectations well in these situations.<\/p>\n Leahy’s inexperience making his first start could be exploited by Chicago’s patient, productive lineup. The Cubs should take advantage of this opportunity to continue their strong September while adding another chapter to this historic rivalry.<\/p>\n Both teams have enough offensive capability to push this total over 8 runs, especially if Leahy struggles early in his debut.<\/p>\n Goooo Cubs!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Chicago Cubs (91-70) wrap up their series against the St. Louis Cardinals (78-83) Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field with Michael Busch riding momentum from a two-homer performance…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2279,"featured_media":417160,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16757],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-417156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nTime:<\/strong> 3:20 p.m. ET \/ 2:20 p.m. CT
\nLocation:<\/strong> Wrigley Field, Chicago
\nTV Coverage:<\/strong> Marquee Sports Network, Fox Sports Midwest
\nBetting Lines:<\/strong> Cubs -169, Cardinals +140
\nRun Total:<\/strong> 8 runs
\nSpread:<\/strong> Cubs -1.5<\/p>\nPitching Matchup: Assad vs Leahy<\/h2>\n
Javier Assad Gets Another Opportunity<\/h3>\n
Kyle Leahy Makes First Start<\/h3>\n
Cubs Offense: Busch Leading the Charge<\/h2>\n
Michael Busch’s Power Display<\/h3>\n
Supporting Cast Provides Balance<\/h3>\n
Cardinals Looking to Salvage Series<\/h2>\n
Balanced Offensive Attack<\/h3>\n
Statistical Advantages Favor Chicago<\/h2>\n
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Betting Analysis<\/h2>\n
Key Injuries<\/h2>\n
Rivalry Factor<\/h2>\n
Game Prediction<\/h2>\n
\nTotal: Over 8 runs<\/strong><\/p>\n