The St. Louis Cardinals return to Busch Stadium on Monday, July 27 to host the Chicago Cubs in a 7:45 PM ET first pitch. It's a classic NL Central rivalry game under the Arch, with the Cubs sending David Peterson to the mound. The Cardinals have yet to announce their probable starter, adding a layer of intrigue to what is always a charged atmosphere when these two division rivals meet. Whether you're tuning in on KMOX 1120 AM or watching on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365, this one carries real stakes in the second half of the 2026 season.
Cubs Probable Starter: David Peterson
Chicago is going with David Peterson for this road start. Specific ERA and win-loss figures weren't available at the time of this preview, so we'll reserve judgment on where Peterson stands in his 2026 campaign. What matters on paper is that he's the Cubs' choice for a rivalry road game, which tells you something about how Chicago views this matchup. Peterson is a left-handed presence — or at least a confirmed starter — and the Cardinals' lineup will need to be prepared to make adjustments early.
Cardinals Starter to Be Determined
St. Louis has not officially named a starter for Monday's game. That's worth watching closely. A TBA slot this deep into the season could signal a bullpen game, a roster move in progress, or simply a decision the organization is holding close. However it shakes out, the Cardinals' pitching staff will need to match Peterson arm-for-arm in a game where every NL Central contest has division race implications.
Keys to Watch Monday Night
- Cardinals' lineup vs. Peterson: Without confirmed Peterson stats, the Cardinals' hitters will need to do their homework early, work counts, and not chase. First-time looks at a starter in a rivalry game can go sideways fast if the lineup is passive.
- Who starts for St. Louis: The TBA designation is the biggest storyline heading into first pitch. A bullpen game demands a different offensive approach — patience, length, grinding at-bats.
- Busch Stadium energy: A Monday night Cubs-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium brings its own electricity. The crowd will be invested from the first pitch, and that home-field edge is real.
- Middle innings management: In a game where one starter is confirmed and one is unknown, the chess match in innings four through six could define the outcome.
Broadcast Information
Monday's game can be seen on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 and heard on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM for Cardinals fans. Cubs fans can find the game on Marquee Sports Network and 104.3 The Score. Spanish-language coverage is available on WIJR AM 880.
Prediction
Without confirmed stats for Peterson and no named Cardinals starter, making a sharp prediction requires some humility. What we do know: Busch Stadium gives St. Louis a genuine home-field advantage in this rivalry, and the Cardinals historically make opponents work in this building. If St. Louis can name a quality arm before first pitch and the lineup stays disciplined against Peterson, this feels like a Cardinals win in a close, competitive game. Call it 4-2 Cardinals, with the bullpen closing the door late.
