2025-08-08 Cubs at Cardinals Matchup Preview

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Chicago Cubs will send left-hander Matthew Boyd to the mound, while the St. Louis Cardinals will counter with right-hander Michael McGreevy. Boyd's repertoire features a fastball that can reach the mid-90s, complemented by a slider and changeup he uses to keep hitters off balance. McGreevy relies more on command and movement, featuring a fastball in the low 90s with a sinker that induces ground balls, as well as a curveball and changeup.

Cubs Hitting Analysis Against McGreevy

The Chicago Cubs offense comes into this game with a team weighted runs created plus of 101.9. The Cubs lineup will need to be patient against McGreevy, who will try to get quick outs by inducing ground balls. It's crucial for the Cubs hitters to work deep counts and get into favorable hitting situations and drive the pitch count up. If the Cubs can make McGreevy uncomfortable and force him to be fine with his location, they can capitalize and generate scoring opportunities. The Cubs hitters may find some success as they have generated a team walk percentage of 8.8%.

Cardinals Hitting Analysis Against Boyd

The St. Louis Cardinals offense is generating a weighted runs created plus of 98.6. Against Matthew Boyd, the Cardinals hitters will have to be disciplined. Boyd has shown a good ability to keep the ball down in the zone and induce soft contact. The Cardinals need to avoid getting caught up in trying to pull everything, as this will play into Boyd's strengths. By focusing on driving the ball up the middle and to the opposite field, the Cardinals can potentially find holes in the defense and generate more consistent offense. The Cardinals hitters have a team strikeout percentage of 21.1%.

Cubs Offensive Strengths

The Cubs' ability to get on base is a significant strength, with the previously mentioned walk percentage showing their patience at the plate. They have shown an ability to create scoring chances. If they can continue to draw walks and get runners into scoring position, they'll put pressure on the Cardinals' pitching staff and defense.

Cardinals Offensive Strengths

The Cardinals have shown the ability to be aggressive on the base paths, leading to a high stolen base percentage, and they have an ability to manufacture runs when needed. Capitalizing on opportunities to steal bases and put runners in scoring position will be key to their success against the Cubs.

Bullpen Outlook

Both teams possess solid bullpens capable of shutting down opposing offenses. The Cubs' bullpen has shown a good ability to limit damage in high-leverage situations, while the Cardinals' relief corps has proven to be reliable in closing out games. The late innings will likely be tightly contested, with each team relying on their bullpen to maintain leads or keep the game within reach.

Intangibles and Prediction

In a rivalry game like this, momentum and timely hitting often play a crucial role. The Cubs' slightly more potent offense, combined with Boyd's ability to keep hitters off balance, gives them a slight edge in this matchup. However, the Cardinals' experience and determination should not be underestimated. This game promises to be a hard-fought battle between two evenly matched teams.

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