The Cubs ended a 10-game losing streak by beating the Pirates and followed with a win over ace Paul Skenes, splitting the series. The Cubs scored 17 total runs across the two victories and now finish a road trip with a weekend set against the rival Cardinals in Missouri. The Cardinals entered 2026 after trading away veteran talent, but started well, briefly holding first place and currently sitting a half-game behind the Cubs in third. St. Louis ranks 14th in MLB with a .701 team OPS. Jordan Walker leads with 15 homers, 42 RBI, and a .944 OPS, while Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera provide additional middle-of-the-order power. The Cardinals pitching staff has a 4.22 team ERA, ranking 20th, and the bullpen has a 4.26 ERA. Riley O'Brien has 13 saves, with JoJo Romero and Gordon Graceffo strong in setup roles. The Cubs must be ready at Busch Stadium to avoid slipping again.
"The Cubs (31-26) broke their 10-game losing streak against the Pirates on Wednesday and followed it up with a win over ace Paul Skenes on Thursday to split the series. The bats finally came to life in the two victories, putting up 17 total runs. They wrap up their road trip with a weekend set in Missouri against the rival Cardinals."
"St. Louis (29-25) had meager expectations entering 2026 after unloading a lot of their veteran talent in the offseason. Cubs fans know that it's never that easy to get rid of the Redbirds, and sure enough, they are off to a good start this season. They even briefly held first place in the NL Central, but now sit just a half-game behind the Cubs in third."
"The Cardinals' offense is in the middle of the pack with a .701 team OPS that ranks 14th in MLB. Outfielder Jordan Walker is having a massive breakout season with 15 homers, 42 RBI, and a .944 OPS. Big first baseman Alec Burleson is having a nice season, and designated hitter/catcher Ivan Herrera is a big threat in the heart of the lineup."
"It's been a bit more of a struggle for the pitching staff in the Gateway City with a 4.22 team ERA that is 20th best in MLB. Michael McGreevy has been the top starter in 2026, but the Cubs won't see him in this series. The bullpen has been an issue at times for the Cardinals, with a 4.26 ERA. Fireballing closer Riley O'Brien has 13 saves, though he hasn't been perfect. JoJo Romero and Gordon Graceffo have been excellent in setup roles in the early going."
Read at Cubsinsider
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