The St. Louis Cardinals host the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, with first pitch set for 7:45 PM ET. Dustin May takes the ball for St. Louis against Chicago's Matthew Boyd in what figures to be a pivotal NL Central matchup. Any ground gained — or lost — against a division rival in late July carries real weight in the standings race, and this one has the makings of a tight, well-pitched game.

Probable Starters: Dustin May vs. Matthew Boyd

Dustin May gets the nod for the Cardinals. The right-hander has had a winding road in his career — battling injuries and working to establish himself as a reliable rotation piece — and every start is a chance to build on that. Manager Oli Marmol will be watching May's pitch efficiency and ability to work deep into the game, especially against a Cubs lineup capable of making pitchers work full counts.

Matthew Boyd draws the assignment for Chicago. The left-hander is a crafty veteran who leans on command and pitch mix over pure velocity. Boyd has enough experience in high-leverage starts to keep a lineup off-balance, and the Cardinals' lineup will need to stay disciplined and make him throw strikes early in counts.

Cardinals Starting Lineup

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

Keys to Watch for St. Louis

JJ Wetherholt Setting the Table

Wetherholt leads off and his on-base ability at the top of the order is critical. Against a left-hander like Boyd, getting the Cardinals' lineup turned over early puts pressure on Chicago's defense and bullpen. Wetherholt's approach at the plate will set the tone from pitch one.

Masyn Winn and the Middle of the Order

Winn batting fifth is a notable spot in this lineup construction. His combination of speed and gap-to-gap power gives the Cardinals a different kind of threat in the five-hole. If Burleson and Herrera are doing damage in the three and four spots, Winn becomes a matchup problem for Boyd and any relievers Chicago turns to late.

Blaze Jordan Continuing to Make His Case

Jordan at third base in the seven-hole is worth monitoring. The young slugger has raw power that can change a game in a single at-bat. Boyd's stuff will test Jordan's ability to recognize spin early, and how he handles that matchup could prove decisive.

May's Pitch Count and Depth

The Cardinals' bullpen situation makes it important for May to be efficient. If he can navigate five or six innings without burning too many pitches, St. Louis has a better chance of controlling the game late without overextending its relief corps.

Prediction

This one figures to be a low-scoring, grinding affair. Boyd will keep the Cardinals honest, but St. Louis has enough lineup depth to scratch out runs against left-handed pitching. If May is sharp and the Cardinals play clean defense, expect a Cardinals win, 4–2, at Busch Stadium.