The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Friday, August 14, 2026, with first pitch set for 2:20 PM ET. Clay Holmes gets the ball for Chicago opposite St. Louis left-hander Matthew Liberatore in a division matchup that carries real weight in the NL Central standings. The game airs on Apple TV, with radio coverage on 104.3 The Score for Cubs fans and KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM for Cardinals listeners. Any game between these two franchises matters — and this one is no different.

Starting Pitchers: Clay Holmes vs. Matthew Liberatore

Holmes draws the assignment for the Cubs in what figures to be a pivotal outing. The right-hander has been a key piece of Chicago's pitching infrastructure, and how he manages St. Louis's lineup from top to bottom will set the tone early. Liberatore, a left-handed starter who has worked to carve out a rotation spot in St. Louis, presents his own challenges — particularly against a Cubs lineup stacked with right-handed bats. The Cubs will want to make him work deep into counts and put pressure on the Cardinals bullpen if they can chase Liberatore before the sixth.

Cubs Lineup Keys to Watch

• Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF, leadoff) — PCA setting the table at the top of the order is exactly what this offense needs. His ability to get on base and create chaos on the basepaths can dictate how an entire game unfolds.
• Alex Bregman (3B, No. 3) — Slotted in the heart of the order, Bregman is a disciplined, experienced hitter who knows how to punish mistakes. A lefty starter like Liberatore gives Bregman a favorable look.
• Michael Busch (1B, cleanup) — The Cubs are asking Busch to be a middle-of-the-order force, and this is exactly the kind of spot where he can do damage against a left-hander.
• Nico Hoerner (2B, No. 5) — Hoerner is one of the most consistent contact hitters on this roster. His ability to put the ball in play and move runners keeps the lineup from stalling.

Cardinals Lineup Keys to Watch

• Jordan Walker (RF, cleanup) — Walker is the Cardinals' most dangerous bat in this lineup and the player Holmes must be most careful with. Leaving anything over the plate against Walker is a risk.
• Masyn Winn (SS, No. 6) — Winn is an athletic, capable hitter who can hurt you even in the bottom third. Holmes cannot coast through the back of this order.
• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff) — The young Cardinals second baseman sets the table at the top. How Holmes handles Wetherholt in his first few plate appearances will be worth watching closely.

Three Keys to a Cubs Win

• Holmes needs to limit traffic against the top of the St. Louis order, particularly Walker in the cleanup spot.
• The Cubs' right-handed bats — Bregman, Busch, and Crow-Armstrong — must take advantage of facing a left-handed starter in Liberatore.
• Wrigley Field's afternoon atmosphere can be electric for a division game. The Cubs need to channel that energy early and force St. Louis into a defensive posture.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Chicago at home against a Cardinals lineup that carries some youth at the bottom. Holmes is capable of going deep into this one, and the Cubs lineup has enough right-handed firepower to make Liberatore's afternoon uncomfortable. Expect a competitive, low-scoring game that comes down to which bullpen blinks first. Cubs 4, Cardinals 2.