Opinion
3 min read

Cubs and Cardinals Ready for a Duel in St. Louis

As the Chicago Cubs prepare to face off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying game on May 25th. The Cubs, coming off a series of games that have tested their mettle, look to assert their dominance in this upcoming match.


Jul 29, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Analyzing the Cubs' recent performances reveals a team that has had its ups and downs but shows signs of potential greatness. In their last game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 19th, despite a low hit count of just 2, they managed to secure 2 runs. This demonstrates a resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities when they arise, albeit the need for improvement in hitting is evident.


The bullpen's performance was notably strong during this game, maintaining an ERA of 0.0 over 4.1 innings pitched and showcasing an impressive strikeout rate of over 10 per nine innings. This strength from the bullpen could be pivotal in the upcoming game against the Cardinals.


Jul 29, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (40) is hit by a pitch from Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

On May 18th, another game against the Pirates saw similar challenges with hitting as they managed only 5 hits but eked out a win with a single run scored in comparison to none by their opponents. The pitching staff again showed its worth by keeping runs off the board entirely through nine innings.


However, it wasn't all smooth sailing as evidenced by their performance on May 17th where defensive errors contributed to a loss despite managing three runs off four hits - indicating areas where tightening up could make all the difference moving forward.


Jul 29, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (48) reacts after the Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals present formidable opposition with consistent performances throughout their season thus far; however, if recent games are anything to go by, they are not without vulnerabilities that can be exploited by a determined Cubs team.


Given these observations and considering both teams' strengths and weaknesses heading into this matchup at Busch Stadium - it's reasonable to predict that if Chicago can enhance its batting performance while maintaining strong pitching and defense as seen recently - there stands a good chance for them not just competing fiercely but potentially securing victory over St Louis.


Fans eager not to miss any action from this highly anticipated duel should tune into FOX at precisely 6:15 PM CT on Saturday night from Busch Stadium located in St Louis MO USA (Zip:63102).

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