The St. Louis Cardinals head to the North Side for a Fourth of July showdown at Wrigley Field, sending Kyle Leahy to the mound against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga on Saturday, July 4 at 8:08 PM ET. This is a division game that carries weight no matter the calendar date — the Cardinals and Cubs are NL Central rivals, and every game in this series has playoff-race implications baked in. FOX carries the national broadcast, while Cardinals fans can catch it locally on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Cardinals vs. Cubs Pitching Matchup: Leahy vs. Imanaga

Kyle Leahy draws the start for St. Louis, and this is an assignment that will tell us something real about where the Cardinals are as a pitching staff. Leahy is a young arm still carving out his identity at the big league level, and Wrigley Field on a holiday weekend — with a rowdy Cubs crowd and a loaded lineup staring him down — is about as tough a proving ground as it gets. Command and keeping the ball in the ballpark have to be his priorities from the first pitch.

On the other side, Shota Imanaga is a problem. The Cubs left-hander has been one of the better starters in the National League, and his ability to tunnel pitches and generate soft contact makes him a nightmare matchup for lineups that aren't disciplined at the plate. The Cardinals will need patience and a willingness to work counts if they want to get into the Cubs bullpen before the late innings.

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup at Wrigley Field

• JJ Wetherholt, 2B
• Iván Herrera, DH
• Jordan Walker, RF
• Alec Burleson, 1B
• Masyn Winn, SS
• José Fermín, 3B
• Lars Nootbaar, LF
• Pedro Pagés, C
• Nathan Church, CF

Keys to Watch for the Cardinals

Jordan Walker Needs a Big Night

Batting third and playing right field, Walker is the Cardinals' best bet to do damage against a high-end starter like Imanaga. If Walker is locked in and making hard contact early, it changes the entire complexion of the game. He has the tools to be a middle-of-the-order force in this league — nights like Saturday are when that has to show up.

Masyn Winn and the Middle of the Order

Winn hitting fifth is a sign of how much St. Louis trusts his bat in key spots. His ability to put the ball in play and make things happen on the bases gives the Cardinals' offense a different dimension. Pair that with Alec Burleson hitting cleanup, and this lineup has enough to compete — but only if they're not chasing Imanaga's secondary stuff out of the zone.

Leahy and the Alex Bregman Problem

The Cubs lineup is genuinely dangerous. Alex Bregman hitting second, Seiya Suzuki fourth, Ian Happ fifth — that's a core that will punish any mistake left over the heart of the plate. Leahy cannot afford to let traffic accumulate against the top of this order. Quick outs early are essential.

Prediction

Imanaga is the best pitcher on the field Saturday night, and that matters in close games. The Cardinals are competitive and the lineup has enough firepower to keep it interesting, but Leahy faces a steep climb at Wrigley on the Fourth of July. Look for a tight ballgame that comes down to the bullpens — and right now, the Cubs hold the edge. Cubs 4, Cardinals 2.