The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their Fourth of July weekend road trip at Wrigley Field on Sunday, July 5, with a 2:30 PM ET first pitch against the Chicago Cubs. Matthew Liberatore gets the ball for St. Louis against Cubs right-hander Javier Assad in what shapes up as a pivotal NL Central clash. With division standings tight and summer baseball heating up, this rivalry game carries real weight. Catch it on Peacock/NBCSN Extra or listen on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Cardinals at Cubs: Sunday, July 5, 2026 — Wrigley Field Game Preview

There's no friendlier place for a rivalry to simmer than the corner of Clark and Addison, and the Cardinals are rolling into Chicago knowing every game against the Cubs in July matters. St. Louis needs a strong performance from Liberatore to close out this series on a high note.

Probable Pitching Matchup: Liberatore vs. Assad

Matthew Liberatore has been one of the more intriguing storylines in the Cardinals' rotation this season. The left-hander has shown flashes of the stuff that made him a top prospect — a smooth delivery, a sharp curveball, and the ability to pile up swings and misses when he's locating his fastball. A strong start here against a Cubs lineup that can punish mistakes would go a long way toward cementing his role as a reliable rotation piece for St. Louis.

Javier Assad has developed into a legitimate mid-rotation arm for Chicago. He works both sides of the plate and isn't afraid to climb the ladder with his fastball. The Cardinals will need patience at the plate and a disciplined approach to get to him early in counts.

Cardinals Lineup to Watch

• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff): The rookie has been one of the more exciting developments in St. Louis this season. His on-base ability at the top of the order sets the table and puts immediate pressure on opposing pitchers.
• Iván Herrera (C, 2nd): Batting second is a sign of how much the Cardinals trust Herrera's bat. He's become a legitimate offensive weapon behind the plate, and hitting him high in the order against Assad makes sense.
• Alec Burleson (1B, 3rd): Burleson in the three-hole is the Cardinals leaning into his power potential. He's capable of doing real damage against a right-hander like Assad if he gets a pitch to drive.
• Jordan Walker (RF, cleanup): Walker batting fourth tells you everything about where the Cardinals are with him. He has the tools to be a franchise corner outfielder, and clean-up duty against a division rival is exactly where you want to see him step up.
• Lars Nootbaar (LF, 5th): Nootbaar's ability to work counts and make consistent contact makes him a tough out anywhere in the lineup. He's the kind of professional hitter who keeps innings alive.

Keys to the Game for St. Louis

• Liberatore must limit the Cubs' top of the order. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman are legitimate threats at the one and two spots for Chicago. If Liberatore can work through those two efficiently, the Cardinals can control the tempo of the game.
• Exploit the middle of Chicago's lineup. Carson Kelly batting fourth for the Cubs is a matchup the Cardinals should target. Liberatore's stuff plays well against right-handed catchers when he's commanding his curveball.
• Wetherholt and Herrera need to get on base. Assad is at his best when he can work quickly. Getting guys on in the first two innings forces him to pitch from the stretch and opens up the middle of the order for Burleson and Walker to do damage.
• Bullpen management matters. Wrigley Field in July with the wind blowing out is no place to get careless in the late innings. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol will need to be sharp with his bullpen decisions if Liberatore exits early.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for St. Louis. Liberatore has the stuff to keep the Cubs' lineup off-balance, and the Cardinals' lineup has enough upside to put runs on Assad early. The Cubs are dangerous at home — Wrigley always provides a spark — but a locked-in Liberatore start paired with a timely Walker or Burleson home run gives the Cardinals the edge. Cardinals 5, Cubs 3.