Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals - June 24, 2025

As I look ahead to tonight’s matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, I can’t help but reflect on what makes these games so riveting. There’s a palpable tension that comes with rivalry games like this, where every pitch and at-bat carries an added weight. This evening, I believe we’ll see the Cardinals take home the win over the Cubs.

Let’s break down some of the crucial elements. On the mound for St. Louis is Michael McGreevy, sporting a win-loss record of 1-1 and an ERA of 4.02. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, he does possess a respectable strikeout rate of 7.3 per game—indicating his potential to keep hitters guessing and avoid significant damage. His key will be maintaining composure under pressure and effectively using his pitches to navigate through tough spots.

On the other side, we have Jameson Taillon for Chicago—a more seasoned pitcher with a solid 7-4 record and an ERA just below four at 3.7, paired with an impressive strikeout average nearing 7.8 per game as well. Taillon brings experience and skill to this matchup; however, there are times when even skilled pitchers can struggle against powerful lineups.

Now let’s consider both teams’ offensive stats because they tell us more than just who can swing a bat well—they reveal their consistency at getting on base and capitalizing on scoring opportunities as well.

The Cardinals have averaged about 4.7 runs per game with approximately 8.7 hits—decent but perhaps not intimidating compared to their opponent’s numbers tonight. With their batting average sitting around .251 and an on-base percentage of roughly 70%, they certainly show promise but need to convert those hits into runs more efficiently if they want to secure victory.

Conversely, the Cubs boast higher averages in runs (5.5) and RBIs (5.4), alongside slightly better hitting metrics overall—a clear indication that they can put up big numbers when everything aligns right for them offensively.

However—and here’s where it gets interesting—the dynamics shift in a tightly contested game where pitching often outshines batting prowess in such scenarios like these matchups present us with tonight. The over/under suggests lower scores might be expected, reinforcing my belief that strong pitching performances will limit run production overall.

In critical matchups like this one, each team must strategize carefully based on scouting reports—how to handle opposing pitchers’ strengths while exploiting weaknesses is pivotal for success in MLB action.

So here’s my prediction: The Cardinals capitalize on Taillon’s mistakes while McGreevy holds firm against a talented lineup; expect this contest to remain under as both pitchers do their best work early in the game before late-inning heroics dictate its outcome.

Overall then: Cardinals pull off a narrow victory under tonight’s anticipated total score! It may not be by much—but you know how these things go—sometimes it really comes down to just one crucial play or moment that shifts momentum entirely in your favor or against you!