Cardinals Set Rotation for Crucial Weekend Series Against Slumping Cubs
The St. Louis Cardinals are preparing for another important National League Central showdown as they return home to Busch Stadium for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs beginning Friday night. After enduring a difficult stretch against division opponents, the Cardinals are hoping a much-needed off day on Thursday will help the club reset before facing one of their biggest rivals.
St. Louis enters the series searching for momentum after a disappointing run against NL Central competition. Over their last eight games, the Cardinals have struggled to find consistency, posting a 2-6 record during that stretch. The team dropped two of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, lost one series matchup to the Cincinnati Reds, and were swept in all three contests by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Despite the recent slump, the standings remain extremely tight in the division race. The Cardinals currently sit at 29-25, tied closely with the Cubs, who are 30-26. Both clubs trail the first-place Brewers by 4.5 games, making this upcoming series even more important as the season begins to heat up.
Chicago, however, is dealing with its own struggles. The Cubs recently endured a brutal stretch in which they lost nine of their last 10 games before finally snapping the skid with a victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. With both teams desperate to regain momentum, the rivalry series could have major implications in the NL Central standings moving forward.
Ahead of Friday’s opener, St. Louis officially announced its starting rotation for the weekend series.
The Cardinals will hand the ball to Kyle Leahy for Friday night’s matchup. Leahy has been called upon to provide stability as the Cardinals continue navigating injuries and inconsistencies within the pitching staff. The organization will be counting on him to deliver a solid outing against a Chicago lineup that has struggled offensively in recent weeks.
Saturday’s contest will feature Andre Pallante, who has quietly emerged as one of the more reliable arms in the Cardinals rotation this season. Pallante’s turnaround from last year has been one of the club’s most encouraging developments. During the 2025 campaign, the right-hander struggled heavily, finishing with a 5.31 ERA across 31 starts while battling inconsistency throughout the year.
This season has been a completely different story. Through 10 starts, Pallante owns a much-improved 3.76 ERA over 55 innings pitched. He has also been especially sharp lately, surrendering only five earned runs across his last 17 2/3 innings. His recent performances have given St. Louis a dependable option in the middle of the rotation during a critical stretch of the season.
Sunday’s finale will belong to Matthew Liberatore, who enters the matchup looking to rebound after a rough few outings. Liberatore has shown flashes of dominance this season, particularly with his strikeout ability, but results have been inconsistent overall. The left-hander currently carries a 4.76 ERA through 11 starts.
While Liberatore recorded an impressive 19 strikeouts over his last two appearances, he also allowed seven runs in 9 2/3 combined innings during that span. Additionally, he has not managed to pitch deeper than five innings or allow fewer than three runs in a start since May 7. The Cardinals will need a stronger and more efficient performance from the young pitcher if they hope to secure a series victory against Chicago.
With both teams trying to recover from recent cold streaks, this weekend’s rivalry clash could provide the spark needed to turn a season around. For the Cardinals, strong starting pitching may ultimately determine whether they can climb back into contention in the competitive NL Central race.
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